How can fire be good for plants and animals? Join Sam Lopez, a biologist with the Department for Wildlife Resources, to hear about her work with early successional habitats/pollinator fields and how they improve the diversity of wildlife in a given area. Come hear why they are important, how you can build one, how you can maintain them with herbicides, mechanical methods and prescribed fire, and how the diversity in them can support various wildlife species of interest. Sam will use the Highland WMA (Jack Mountain tract) as an example, where DWR is building early successional habitats for Golden-winged Warblers and endangered pollinator species. The story is full of wildlife wins – in just three years, Golden-winged Warblers have taken up residence in the habitat.

This is a free event, open to the public. The park’s visitor center will be open late to host the talk; to attend, head to the visitor center’s cafe area, or ask at the front counter for the Winter Speaker Series talk.