The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-05-02
GREAT DESTRUCTION HAS BEEN
WROUGHT TO WILDLIFE
AND FORESTS

AND FORESTS
Wildlife and forest have been de-
stroyed in a great many sections OF
Maryland within the past few weeks.
Serious forest fires ragged in Allie
gany and Garrett counties and on
Sunday, April 20, number of coun-
ties; especially Anne Arundel, Bal
timore, Prince Georges Wicomico
and st. Mary's, were visited by
very destructive forest fires In
Anne Arundel County several dwell
ing houses were burned thereby de-
stroying the homes, furniture and
clothing of families and villages
were seriously threatened with fires
which were swept by high winds.
Thousands of persons gathered at
the scenes of roaring fires trying to
assist in preventing the spread of the
fire but because of high winds 1t
was impossible to stop it before
great damage had been done. Shore
front communities in Anne Arundel
County were very seriously threat
ened but a shift of the wind prob
ably saved a great many homes.
1t is estimated that about 5000
acres in Anne Arundel County,
$500 acres in Wicomico County, L.
200 acres in Garrett and Allegany
counties, 1000 acres in st. Mary's
County, 800 acres in Prince Georges
County and 100 acres in Baltimore
County, or an area of about 10000
acres have been burned over within
the last week.
This is a serious matter not only
to wildlife and forests but to land
owners as well, and the majority of
these fires could have been easily
prevented.
In Anne Arundel County it is
claimed the majority of fires were
started by owners of shore-front
property visiting there on Sunday,
burning trash or grass on fields
adjoining their properties, and we
dare say that 80 per cent of the
fires were started by persons either
burning brush or burning fields and
fires to get beyond control.
We fully believe that the farmer
who desires to burn off grass OF
sage brush field would gain great
deal more if he would pillow the
grass under instead of burning it,
but. if he must burn it then he
should be required by law to pillow
at least twenty to twenty-five yards
around the outskirts of the area
which he desires to burn before
being allowed to set match to the
field. In burning off these fields, a
great many times the farmer does
not till it that year and has destroy
be very valuable wildlife. cover,
Ground-nesting birds and animals
must have place to build their
homes and, of course, the song and
insectivorous birds must have trees
in which to build their homes, and
the burning of the cover from the
fields and the destruction of timber
has caused countless thousands OF
species of wildlife to be destroyed.
This is particularly true in Mary
land during the month of April
where we have had very serious
forest fires.
Now that the home building sea-
son for wildlife has arrived we ap-
peal to the general public that if
they must set a fire to get rid OF
rubbish, trash or grass on fields, to
please be careful and control it to
the area they desire to burn.
For years this Department has
been trying to maintain a supply OF
wildlife and, if possible, to increase
it. Our efforts apply not only to
birds and game animals but to song
and .insectivorous birds as well,
which are so necessary in assisting
the farmer to control obnoxious
weeds and insects, not only on his
arabic land but on his timber-land
as well. Again we repeat, the major
ity of these fires are caused by care
lessness and there should be some
law to punish those who set fire
and allow it to get out of control
and damage the property of others.
We believe the fires which have
occurred ON fields and in forests in
Maryland during the month of April
this year have caused more damage
to wildlife than we can possibly re-
build in the next two or three years.
It is not only the wildlife that has
been destroyed but persons homes
and properties as well, and it does
not seem fair that persons through
carelessness, should destroy the
property of an innocent person, es-
pecially dwelling houses and out
buildings, and destroy wildlife and
their natural habitat.