Wildfires may occur in habitats that support endangered species. Resource agencies must decide whether fires should be allowed to burn and potentially destroy the habitat or whether they should be controlled using chemicals that may possibly be toxic to endangered species or impact critical habitats. Three National Biological Service Science Centers are collaborating to develop environmentally sound wildfire management strategies with regards to the use of chemicals. The Patuxent Environmental Science Center is studying the impacts of the wildfire control chemicals on terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates. The Northern Prairie Science Center and the Midwest Science Center are responsible for determining the impacts of the chemicals on terrestrial vegetation and aquatic species, respectively.
Foams are one class of wildfire control chemicals.
This work was funded by the National Interagency Fire Center, Boise, Idaho. Small mammals were selected for primary focus in our study since they are not highly mobile and were expected to be exposed to the chemical within the treated area. Birds, however, likely foraged outside the study site. Further, the density of small mammals was expected to be greater within the study area than birds. Eggs and nestlings of birds nesting in the study sites were to be monitored because they may be exposed to the chemical via direct contact or ingestion.