Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-Wildlife Relations: An Annotated Bibliography


24. Beule, J. D. 1979. Control and management of cattails in southeastern 
         Wisconsin wetlands. Wis. Dep. Nat. Resour. Tech. Bull. 112. 40 pp.

Fire has been used on state-owned wildlife areas in Wisconsin to dispose of accumulated cattail debris, to set back succession of woody plants, and to increase accessibility of the marsh surface to birds. Burning is usually begun in late fall, after heavy frosts have killed and dried plant tops, and is extended into spring before returning birds begin using this cover for nesting. Burning does not actually control cattail because viable plant parts are normally buried in ice or frozen soils. Only in a dried-out marsh, where fire can reach the peat layer, will cattails be controlled. [K-L-S]

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