FIRE EFFECTS AND USE
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Aquila chrysaetos | Golden Eagle 



DIRECT FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS : 
Fire reduces golden eagle reproductive success if the fire crowns in
occupied nest trees [15].  Fires that kill or otherwise alter unoccupied
nest trees may disrupt reproduction if acceptable nest trees are few.
Low-severity fires probably have little direct effect on golden eagles.
Landers [15] commented that light winter burning probably does no
substantial harm [15].


HABITAT RELATED FIRE EFFECTS : 
The golden eagle occurs in the following six major fire-dependent plant
associations in the western United States:  grassland, semidesert
grassland-shrub, sagebrush-grassland, pinyon-juniper woodland, and
ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests [29].

In addition to potentially affecting nest trees, fire may kill perch and
roosting trees.  These snags are used by golden eagles for nesting,
perching and/or roosting.  Use of trees probably depends more on
proximity to prey than condition (live or dead).  Migrating golden
eagles use fire-killed snags near openings for perching and roosting in
subalpine areas of Glacier National Park, Montana [30].

Fires probably enhance the prey base and hunting efficiency of golden
eagles.  Regular burning helps to keep habitats in a suitable condition
for many prey species of the golden eagle and increases hunting
efficiency [15].  In forested areas of the East, golden eagles forage on
burns, though they may prefer bogs [21].  Golden eagles were seen using
recently burned sites in the Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico.
Golden eagles there were probably taking advantage of abundant prey
associated with the growth of new vegetation on the burned site [29].
Fire suppression in this century has contributed to the loss of golden
eagle breeding pairs in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United
States.  Historically, open areas used by golden eagles for foraging in
those mountains were maintained by fire.  After full suppression
policies began, the openings reverted to brush and eventually to
forest.  Today, there are few openings in the Appalachian Mountains; as
a result, the golden eagle has almost disappeared [24].


FIRE USE : 
In the southeastern United States, mountain balds are burned to help
maintain prey populations for the golden eagle [15].


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Aquila chrysaetos | Golden Eagle