The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be conducting prescribed burns this spring on wildlife management areas managed by the Iowa DNR’s Iowa River – Otter Creek Unit in Tama, Iowa, Benton and Mahaska counties.

Areas scheduled for prescribed burns include the Iowa River Corridor in Tama, Benton and Iowa counties; and Hawthorn Wildlife Area, in Mahaska County.

Prescribed burns are used to improve wildlife habitat, control invasive plant species, restore and maintain native plant communities and reduce wildfire potential and vary in size from a few acres to several hundred acres. Burn units are typically on a 4-5 year rotation.

Prescribed burns typically begin mid to late morning and are completed by late afternoon or early evening between mid-March and mid-May. Burns will be conducted on a day that meets the objectives and weather conditions defined in the burn plan. Any prescribed burns that are not able to be completed this spring will be considered for the burn schedule next fall.

Contact Iowa DNR wildlife biologist Rodney Ellingson at 641-751-9767 with any questions or concerns.