Cañada de los Osos Ecological Reserve
Summer 2009 Fire

This summer a fire started by a vehicle accident on Pacheco Pass Highway sent flames into the nearby foothills. About 800 acres of the Canada de los Osos Ecological Reserve were blackened by the fire. CalFire did an excellent job controlling the fire within the reserve, using existing roads to set up a control perimeter. While the grasslands were blackened and some woodlands were burned, the fire had more positive than negative effects on the habitat. Within days after the fire, new grasses and forbs appeared on the open hillsides and shrubs were shooting out new sprouts. This fall, deer were back in the burn area feeding on the arrival of new plant growth.

Fire has long been one of the best tools to improve wildlife habitat. It's thought that early native Americans used this method in the fall of the year to burn off areas to improve habitat for wildlife. The new growth from this fire will carry into the spring to provide deer with quality nutrition for good fawn survival.

The California Deer Association and the California Department of Fish and Game have been working with CalFire to look at other areas on the reserve to implement small controlled burns, both to rejuvenate native plants and to control exotic weeds, such as medusa head and invasive thistles.

This new partnership with CalFire will help us to use fire as a management tool for improving the year-round habitat quality for deer and other wildlife.

Photos from the 2009 Summer Fire above Pacheco Pass

	Some woodland areas burned hotter and some tree loss occurred, but most will resprout.
	CalFire contained the fire by using existing roads and setting backfires.
	Small controlled burns are planned on Canada de los Osos in 2010 to provide better habitat for wildlife found on the reserve.  CalFire will be working with CDA and the Department of Fish and Game to plan and implement the burns.
	Over 800 acres burned throughout oak grasslands.
	New forbs and grasses will provide good nutrition this spring for a variety of wildlife.
	Within days of the fire deer were returning to feed in the burn area.