Woodbury Fire

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Arizona Game and Fish Department staff worked with the Forest Service BAER Team (Burned Area Emergency Response) to provide input on wildlife and habitat conditions, evaluate the burn severity on the landscape, and discuss, identify and  manage potential risks to resources from potential large scale flooding during monsoon rains. 

The BAER team also discusses and develops management actions to restore habitat for Threatened and Endangered Species like Mexican Spotted Owls, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and historic and cultural resources.

Once the fire was fully contained, the Forest Service evaluations were complete and the skies were cleared for non-emergency aircraft, our Wildlife Managers and biologists took to the sky!

These aerial surveys provided information to help the Department assess impacts to wildlife and habitat within the Woodbury Fire scar.

The survey was performed in a grid pattern using north/south transect lines every mile. White-tailed deer, mule deer, bighorn sheep, javelina, black bear, and numerous small mammals and birds were observed within the burn scar and areas directly adjacent to the burn perimeter.

Wildlife is typically very adept at avoiding the path and direct flames of a wildfire. Since the majority of the Woodbury fire progressed relatively slow and burned in a mosaic pattern, it is believed that the majority of wildlife were able to survive this fire.

Although it may seem to be devastating to the landscape, fire is actually a very beneficial component of nature that rejuvenates the land.

The majority of the areas within the Woodbury Fire show a mosaic pattern of burn severity. The map here shows the distribution of unburned, slightly burned, moderately burned, and extensively burned areas within the burn area. As new vegetation grows within the scar area, there will be great benefits to wildlife and the habitat in the Superstitions!

In the following video depicting the movement of two bears during and after the Wallow fire in 2011, you can see how wildlife can not only survive the wildfire, but quickly adapt by locating minimally affected habitats that contain food sources.

Through valiant efforts by the fire fighters, most of the Reavis Ranch area, the orchard, and many other cultural resources and critical wildlife habitat areas were protected!

The following photos showcase additional examples of the mosaic effect caused by the wildfire.

Yes -this will be good for the wildlife.

Yes - some areas will take longer to recover, but they will continue to provide multiple stages of vegetation succession that will benefit wildlife. Early succession stages of plants, shrubs, and trees provide higher nutritional value than those that have matured and have years of old growth.

Many plant species require fire to germinate and/or provide regrowth, so an ecological succession within the plant communities quite possibly may occur - one that hasn't been seen in this landscape for decades!

Area closures may still be in effect for several months in some areas, so please visit the Tonto National Forest website for up to date information.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department thanks everyone for your questions, comments and concerns about the wildlife affected by the Woodbury Fire, and rest assured, our staff continues to work with our state, federal, and conservation partners to Conserve and Protect Arizona's wildlife for future generations to enjoy.