Warner Waterfowl Production Area Project

The Warner project targets invasive tree growth in the grass and wetland habitat of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service owned Waterfowl Production Area property. The invasion of the trees into the breeding habitat limits reproduction and also limits the number of waterfowl using the available grass on this property. Trees not only make the property unattractive to waterfowl but invite unwelcome invasive predators into the habitat. Native prairie was devoid of trees growing in these habitats, because wildfires and buffalo herds made tree survival impossible. Grass grows from beneath the ground surface, while trees are dependent on above ground growth, allowing for fire to kill trees and not the grass. The Property was purchased with Duck Stamp dollars and will again this spring create a better breeding habitat for the fowl and other migratory birds that depend on the prairie grass for reproduction.