Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Zone Fire Staff, local fire departments, and the Delaware Forest Service, began a landscape burning program at the refuge in March 2017. This year's plan includes a total of nearly 400 acres of successional fields and will take place through April 15, contingent upon optimal burn conditions.

The purposes for this year's burn will be to set back succession to early stages to benefit grassland-dwelling birds, counteract against undesired non-native plant species and remove accumulated wildland hazardous fuels as anticipated in the refuge's Comprehensive Conservation Plan. The use of prescribed fire is an effective and cost-efficient method to accomplish these objectives. Trained prescribed burning specialists will conduct the burns.

Weather conditions such as rainfall, wind speed and direction will determine when the burning will occur. Prime Hook Refuge's website will be updated frequently to inform the public regarding daily plans.

The Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge consists of over 10,144 acres of marsh, forest and uplands along the Delaware Bay between Slaughter Beach and Broadkill Beach, east of Milton.

For more information, call 302-684-8419 or go to www.fws.gov/refuge/Prime_Hook. Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is located just off Route 16 near Broadkill Beach at 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton.