The Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, located in Basom in Genesee County, will conduct four prescribed grassland burns between April and August.
Officials said a total of about 105 acres will be involved and the burns will not pose a threat to visitors or neighbors. Each one will take from 2-6 hours to complete.
Prescribed burns at Iroquois and other public lands across the country help remove accumulated fuel loads, which reduces wildfire risks. The fires also improve wildlife habitats by removing invading plants and exposing soils to sunlight to help new seedlings germinate and grow.
Exact dates will be determined by acceptable weather and site conditions, including wind direction and speed. Iroquois Refuge was established in 1958 and was one of the first Important Bird Areas identified in New York State for its diversity in bird species.
