The first prescribed burn occurred in the spring of 1989 and the area recovered quickly with lush vegetation. Burning these areas has resulted in an increase and quality of prairie habitat. This benefits the large numbers of elk that move into Waterton in the winter. In turn, it also benefits predators, scavengers, park visitors and ranchers outside the park who have experienced crop depredation by elk in the past. Answers to common questions on fire management 1.
Landscapes untouched by humans are rare.
Even in national parks, ecological processes have been altered by humans and need to be restored. Fire has been suppressed in many parks for decades. Therefore, prescribed fire is used to restore the ecological role of fire. Not only is it contrary to park policy, logging offers few of the ecological benefits of fire. It completely removes trees and nutrients whereas fire recycles them.