Burning

I grew up with Smokey the Bear warning me not to start forest fires.  So in my mind forest fires = bad.  So imagine my surprise when I learned that not only are fires sometimes beneficial, but sometimes they are intentionally set to control the native populations.  Without fires, vines and other dense shrubs take over the woods, choking out all the beautiful wildflowers and forcing animals like the gophers out of their habitats.  An interesting article about controlled burning can be found here.

Below is a picture taken near Sand Lake in the Wekiwa State Park showing a recently burned area.  It looks a little bleak, but I am assured will be back to its thriving self in no time.