Wildfires not detrimental to wildlife

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- State officials say grass fires that have swept across Oklahoma over the last two months have not been detrimental to wildlife.<br/><br/>Since November, wildfires have burned 414,000

Wednesday, January 18th 2006, 5:58 am

By: News On 6

SHAWNEE, Okla. (AP) -- State officials say grass fires that have swept across Oklahoma over the last two months have not been detrimental to wildlife.

Since November, wildfires have burned 414,000 acres, 250 homes and businesses and killed two people.

But the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation says animals are generally able to get away from the fire and the flames ends up improving habitat for wildlife by eliminating undesirable plants and trees.

The agency usually does controlled burning to accomplish this, but the high fire danger has prevented such burns this year.