Lions in burned over areas

[BEAR HUNTER]

Last year here in Ca we had record wild fires. Fortunatly they were all out by the time bear season rolled around. One morning we started a bear track that went right through a large burn. After looking around I found 3 diff lion tracks plus a seperate track which I believe was a mom and cub. After several days of hunting that area I came to the conclusion (may not be correct) that the deer were coming in to the fresh burn and the lions were following them. Still havnt figured out why all the bear activity maybe they are rolling in the ashes or finding food that was burned over. Whats your guys thoughts on it.

[tman308]

I have a brother who is a Forest Service fire guy and this happens to them all the time. When a burn goes through an area it releases minerals from the trees and ground the animals flock to it. The predators are probably just following prey but my brother said that bears will be just outside the active fire rooting around. The other thing that happens is that the slurry that is dropped on fires usually has some grass seed in it so it helps to start the rejuvenation process. The grazers love all those fresh shoots coming up. Just what I know.

[FullCryHounds]

Fires are the best thing that can happen to most areas. Old forest growth doesn't allow feed (grasses, shrubs, etc.) to grow for game animals. We had a huge fire go through this area back in 02 and within two weeks, we had elk in there where we'd never had them before. Now the place is overrun with elk and deer. The largest mule deer shot anywhere in North America in the past 20 years was taken out of this area two years ago. The lions are just following thier prey.

[BuckNAze]

Yep, fires are possibly the best thing if you want more healthy abundant game. They will straight up eat the ash after a fire. My dad was/is a forester for over 30+ years and he was always prescribing prescribed burns to help out the trees so they have less competition to grow and it also helped out the wildlife in the process. Wildfires arent always good but it does have its advantages. We have about 20 on our rez as of right now, been getting a lot of lighting strikes. We avearage a 20,000-30,000 acres wildfire a year due to arson most of the time

[houndcrazyfool]

most people know that fire is good, promotes growth, sprouts that are high nutrients, and ext... but an old trapper (my mentor) once told me that the game go and roll around in the ashes to get rid of the ticks(in our area)

[BuckNAze]

I would imagine he is right. Considering heat tends to draw ticks out, especially if it was still in the summer and the ashes are hot enough to draw them out but not to burn them, thats the only way I can see it happening, unless ther eis something about ash that I dont understand that would help draw them off their hide.

[Shorty]

Houndcrazy,

You are exactly right. Here in S. Texas almost everyone has to do some brush clearing at some point. The dozers will pile the brush in huge piles, some as big as houses. Then you waite till they are good and dry (maybe six months to a year) and light them on fire. What a fire they make.

A few days later you can go by the burns and see where all sorts of animals have rolled in the ashes. Cattle, deer, hogs and whatever else you might have on the property. They will all use it. I've always heard it's for the fleas, lice and ticks. Whatever reason they will all use it.

[houndcrazyfool]

every time we have had fires in our areas all the bucks look damn near black