The Bowing Green Parks and Recreation Department periodically conducts prescribed burns at the Wintergarden/St. John’s Nature Preserve as a land management tool. These controlled burns have greatly enhanced the natural habitat for wildlife and assisted with plant management — efficiently removing non-native invasive species that invade local habitat and shade out native plants. Controlled burns are a natural resource manager’s most cost-effective tool for managing a natural habitat.
Given the correct weather conditions, the nature preserve will conduct a prescribed burn this spring to maintain the prairie grasses and flowers. An exact day has not been determined
The burn will be conducted by a certified prescribed fire manager, along with trained City of Bowling Green staff and Wood County Park District staff. The Bowling Green Fire Division will supervise the prescribed burn.
Those using the preserve during a burn should stay on the trails and maintain distance. Specific trails may be closed for a short period for safety purposes, and most burns require a couple of hours to complete.
For more information, call Cinda Stutzman, natural resources specialist at the Rotary Nature Center in the Wintergarden/St. John’s Nature Preserve, 419-353-0301.
