Spatiotemporal Variability of Fire Characteristics Affect Animal Responses in Pyric Landscapes

We used GPS data to examine how turkeys responded to prescribed fires.  We found that birds concentrated their activities in areas of stands where burns were less intense, and birds were less likely to use the interior of burned stands.  We also found that areas >250 yards from the edge of an adjacent unburned stand were unlikely to be used.  So, the take-home is to apply prescribed fire in a way where burned areas are beside unburned areas, and try to keep fuel loads down so that severity of fires is reduced.