HABITAT -- Conditions reports are starting to come out of closed areas burned by 2015 wildfires, and the news isn't all bad by any means if you're a hunter or any other sort of wildlife enthusiast.

While some areas burned hot and erosion will be a factor for years, other areas have burned in a mosaic pattern that leaves patches of habitat untouched while rejuvenating other areas that will sprout with nutritious vegetation for critters such as deer, elk, moose and bears.

"When you see the boundaries of the burns on a map, it's not what some people think," one forester said. "It's not all black in those boundaries."

Wayne Wakkinen, Idaho Fish and Game Department regional wildlife manger said some of the burns such as in the Snow Peak area of the St. Joe drainage and also in the Coeur d'Alene River drainage occurred in areas that had already been identified as needing timber management or prescribed fire to improve habitat and forage in overgrown areas."

Browns Lake, above, is within the footprint of the Tower Fire. But as the photo made this week shows, a lot of forest was left untouched by the fire that move through.  

The Tower Fire area remains closed to public access as crews are still working on active fire and rehabilitation projects.

 

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