2024real CountyBringing Rx Burns back to the Shield Ranch
In Real County, the land managers at Shield Ranch recognized a missing ecological ingredient: prescribed fire. Though the ranch had a history of controlled burning, it had been unable to execute burns for multiple years due to a lack of experienced personnel and available qualified contractors.
To reignite the ranch's burning program, managers partnered with Jacob Nelson, Coordinating Wildlife Biologist with PF/QF, with two primary objectives: return fire to the landscape and build the hands-on experience and confidence of Shield Ranch staff.
Acres Burned: 109 acres successfully treated in a single burn in 2024
Acres Planned: 119 additional acres planned, with more target units anticipated in the future.
Although winter weather conditions kept a second planned burn on hold, the successful completion of the 109-acre fire represented a major step forward. The experience increased the staff's comfort level and paved the way for fire to return as a regular, long-term management tool on the ranch.
The reintroduction of fire is actively restoring habitat structure for a diverse array of species, including:
Northern bobwhite
Wild turkey
Black-capped vireo
Painted bunting
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Rufous-crowned sparrow
Bewick’s wren
