Suspicious smoke may be prescribed burn

SUTTON — The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has planned a prescribed burn for hundreds of acres in the Matanuska Valley State Moose Range Sunday, depending on conditions, officials said.

In an effort to create and enhance habitat for moose and other wildlife, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is working with local, state and federal partners to conduct prescribed burns and mechanical clearing treatments in locations throughout the state, according to a Fish and Game press release.

Officials will burn mature aspen trees to encourage regeneration of these and other hardwoods.

Fires allow mature forests to be replaced through regeneration of aspen, willow and birch needed by snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse and other wildlife for food and cover, officials said.

“In areas where increasing land development is occurring and moose are at high densities, like here in Game Management Unit 14A, it’s not uncommon for their habitat to begin degrading,” said Palmer Area Wildlife Biologist Todd Rinaldi. “By manipulating mature forests in this manner, we create more available browse, which should begin to benefit moose within a couple of years, becoming optimal in 10 to 20 years.”

Although these projects are relatively small in scale, continued efforts to treat portions of the landscape over time will provide a long-term forage base for moose and other wildlife. Meanwhile, more moose habitat enhancement plans are in the works for these and other parts of the state.

Updates on plans for prescribed burns will be forthcoming as specific dates are scheduled.

For more information, visit akfireinfo.com, or call (907) 317-7236, or email sue.rodman@alaska.gov.