Infographics

Cedars/Junipers Put More Acres at Risk of Wildfire Spread
WIND SPEED: 40 mph
FUEL MOISTURE: 7-9%
Maximum Spot-fire Distances
Under different levels of cedar encroachment

• Grassland 0.6: miles
• Encroached Grassland: 1.1 miles
• Cedar/Juniper Woodland: 2.0 miles

Acres Around Ignition at Risk of Spot-fire
Under different levels of cedar encroachment

• Grassland: 2,160 acres
• Encroached Grassland: 4,800 acres (2x more than grassland)
• Cedar/Juniper Woodland: 12,000 acres (5.5x more than grassland)

Donovan et al. 2023 Spot-fire distance increases disproportionately for wildfires compared to prescribed fires as grasslands transition to Juniperus woodlands.
https://bit.ly/SpotfireJuniper
University of Florida, at Milton
Nebraska Agronomy and Horticulture

Eastern Redcedar: Mosquito Oasis & Disease Hot-Spot
Peak Mosquito Abundance, Western OK (August - September)
Mean Mosquito Abundance per Trap each Night (C. tarsalis)
Grassland: 1
Deciduous Trees: 10
Open Canopy Cedar: 12
Closed Canopy Cedar: 12
West Nile Virus-Infected Mosquitoes
Infected Mosquito Groups Captured (Across Oklahoma)
Grassland: 1
Deciduous Trees: 1
Cedar: 12
Why do Mosquitoes use Cedar?
Shelter: low wind and high humidity help mosquito survival
Blood Meals: cardinals and robins are reservoir hosts of West Nile Virus and prefer cedar
Data: Hess et al. 2020, Noden et al. 2021, Maichak et al. 2022, Henriquez 2023.
Noden et al. 2021 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-021-01562-8
Oklahoma State University Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology

Eastern Redcedar Woodlands Grow Fewer Plant Species Than Grasslands
Cedar Density & Number of Understory Species
As Eastern redcedar trees per acre increase, the number of grasses and broadleaf plant species sharply decreases (in a 10 square meter plot)
Tallgrass Prairie Grasslands had the Most Plant Species

• Grassland had 21 species of grasses & broadleaf plants (in a 1 meter squared plot)

-Shrub Island had 14 species of grasses & broadleaf plants (in a 1 meter squared plot)
-Beneath Cedar had 2 species of grasses & broadleaf plants (in a 10 meter squared plot)
Knapp et al. 2008 Ecological Consequences of the Replacement of Native Grassland by Juniperus virginiana and Other Woody Plants [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-34003-6_8](https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-34003-6_8)

Eastern redcedar is invading prairies from Iowa to Texas due to lack of fire.
Mechanical removal can decrease cedar cover, but it cannot be a one-time treatment.
Watch this video to see an Oklahoma pasture become invaded, cleared and then quickly re-invaded
Tree Cover
1894: 4%
1990: 17%
1993: 9% (after mechanical removal)
2000: 25%
2019: 59%
https://youtu.be/vdX2EXNyPi4?si=-SjwVaptruEaSNy2
See tree cover for your pasture on the Rangeland Analysis Platform [https://rangelands.app](https://rangelands.app)

Eastern Redcedar Removal Effect on Runoff & Sediment
RUNOFF
Restored Prairie had higher runoff. This runoff feeds streams & ponds.
2015 - 36 inches of rain
Watershed 1 (juniper/cedar woodlands): Runoff = 1 inch
Watershed 2 (juniper/cedar woodlands): Runoff = 1 inch
2018/2019 - 46 inches of rain (averaged)
Watershed 1 (juniper/cedar woodlands): Runoff = 6 inches
Watershed 2 (restored prairie): Runoff = 11 inches
SEDIMENT LOAD
Juniper/cedar woodland had greater sediment load. Sediment is soil that is eroded and deposited in streams/ponds and decreases water quality.
2015 - 36 inches of rain
Watershed 1 (juniper/cedar woodlands): Sediment Load = 89 lbs/ac/yr
Watershed 2 (juniper/cedar woodlands): Sediment Load= 89 lbs/ac/yr
2018/2019 - 46 inches of rain (averaged)
Watershed 1 (juniper/cedar woodlands): Sediment Load = 651 lbs/ac/yr
Watershed 2 (restored prairie): Sediment Load = 393 lbs/ac/yr
Juniper Woodland

• higher watershed sediment load
• greater sediment concentration

Restored Prairie

• higher peak flow
• longer flow duration

Check out the article here https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105816
Zhong et al. 2020 Response of sediment concentration and load to removal of juniper woodland and subsequent establishment of grasslands – A paired experimental watershed study

Individual tree ignition is a technique that can kill eastern redcedar or ashe/blueberry juniper trees that have been partially scorched (browned out) after prescribed fire or wildfire.
If only the lower branches of large trees are scorched after the first fire, the tree will not die and individual ignition is needed.
Do this as soon as possible following the initial fire before surrounding fuel has regrown.
To learn how to apply this technique, check out the fact sheet! [https://bit.ly/OSU_Single_Tree_Ig](https://bit.ly/OSU_Single_Tree_Ig)

How Does Eastern Redcedar Spread?

• Up to 1.5 million seeds produced per mature tree every year
• 65% seed spread beyond mature trees by birds
• 95% seedlings up to 200 yards from mature trees
• 1 mature tree contaminates 26 acres with seedlings
• Trees produce seeds at 6-7 years old (~5ft tall)
• Short lived seeds: Viability 5% at 14 months; 3% at 28 months

Stopping Eastern Redcedar Invasion

• Prioritize defending areas of intact grassland
• Prevent seedling establishment (fire/haying)
• Remove seed sources (mature females trees ~5ft tall)
• Reduce perch locations for birds spreading seed (unneeded fence, cedar skeletons, other trees)

Eastern Redcedar Seeds are Spread by Birds
Berry (cone) Dispersal by Birds

• 32% of cone crop was found 0-40 ft from female tree
• 68% of cone crop was found 40ft+ from female tree

Germination

• Bird digestion increased germination by 1.5 to 3.5 times.

Seed Germination

• 16% - Control (manually depulped)
• 28% - Cedar Waxwing
• 55% - Yellow-Rumped Warbler

What Can You Do?

• Trees - cut female trees to prevent seed production
• Fences - limit unnecessary cross-fencing to reduce perch locations

Data: The avian seed dispersal system of the eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginana)
https://doi.org/10.1139/b85-208

Eastern Redcedar, Ticks, & Disease?
Click to read! https://doi.org/10.52707/1081-1710-46.1.12
This research was done by the Noden Lab in the OSU Plant Pathology Department in conjunction with the OSU Natural Resources Ecology and Management Department.
Continued in-depth research funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Preliminary Results! More research upcoming.
TICK NUMBERS
More lonestar ticks are found in cedar woodlands.

• Closed cedar woodland: 437 ticks collected
• Open cedar woodland: 202 ticks collected
• Open grassland: 16 ticks collected

TICK-BORNE PATHOGENS

• Ticks infected with Ehrlichia or Rickettsia (spotted fever) are most common in cedar woodlands.
• Open grasslands are least likely to have ticks infected with these pathogens.

Oklahoma State University Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Oklahoma State University Natural Resources Extension

Eastern Redcedar Tree Cover Change Over 35 Years 1950-1985*
*(correction: visual previously showed 1980)
140% Increase Statewide
1.5 million acres to 3.5 million acres
Panhandle: 2,000 acres (1985)
Northwest: 652% INCREASE from 92,750 acres to 697,350 acres
North Central: 440% INCREASE from 124,240 acres to 671,031 acres
Northeast: 8% DECREASE from 233,150 acres to 214,185 acres
Central: 321% INCREASE from 88,637 acres to 373,413 acres
East Central: 111% INCREASE from 85,330 acres to 179,854 acres
Southwest: 187% INCREASE from 15,880 acres to 45,617 acres
Southwest-West Central: 23% INCREASE from 47,290 acres to 58,312 acres
Southeast-East Central: 52% INCREASE from 590,600 acres to 900,023 acres
Southeast: 119% INCREASE from 184,200 acres to 403,790 acres
See CURRENT tree cover at [https://rangelands.app/](https://rangelands.app/)

Eastern redcedar is a volatile fuel.
Before wildfire season, remove cedars near structures, on fence lines and in pastures to limit negative wildfire impacts.
The Prairie Project

Does eastern redcedar removal change water availability?
In an 8-year study, OSU researchers found that both soil water storage and runoff increased after they mechanically removed eastern redcedar in central Oklahoma and let prairie regenerate naturally.
Soil water storage increased by 1.6 times, providing more water for grasses and broadleaf plants.
Runoff increased by 4.5 times, providing for streams and ponds that are important for people, livestock and wildlife.
Click to read more [http://bit.ly/Zhong_et_al_2020](http://bit.ly/Zhong_et_al_2020)

Eastern redcedar removal options include fire, mechanical, chemical and biological.
Look at our most recent posts in case you missed any!
How to manage: Biological
Targeted Grazing: Using specific livestock types in a particular season, for a chosen length of time and intensity, to target certain vegetation types for management goals.
Eastern Redcedar Control
Who: Mature goats
What: 3-6 ft trees
When: Winter
How: Stripping needles and bark
Results: goat control of junipers (relative of eastern redcedar). 52 years of data.
No Goats: 207 trees (0 to <1.6ft), 129 trees (1.6 - 6.5ft), 330 trees (> 6.5ft) for a total of 666
Light Goats: 137 trees (0 to <1.6ft), 72 trees (1.6 - 6.5ft), 145 trees (> 6.5ft) for a total of 354
Heavy Goats: 67 trees (0 to <1.6ft), 22 trees (1.6 - 6.5ft), 34 trees (> 6.5ft) for a total of 123
Cedars are preferred browse of goats in winter.
To read more about goat targeted grazing, click the link! https://bit.ly/GoatTargetedGrazing
The Prairie Project

Eastern redcedar removal options include fire, mechanical, chemical and biological.
Stay tuned to learn about all four!
How to manage: CHEMICAL
Individual plant treatments, NOT labeled for broadcast application
Soil Applied: Liquid
Hexazinone, Trade Name: Velpar L, Rate: 2-4ml/inch stem diameter
Picloram, Trade Name: Tordon 22K, Rate: 3-4ml/inch stem diameter
Recommendations:

• Apply to soil within 3ft of tree base.
• Requires rain, apply April-May or September

Soil Applied: Pellets
Hexazinone, Trade Name: Pronone Power Pellets, Rate: 1-2 pellets/inch stem diameter
Recommendations:

• Apply to soil within 3ft of base
• Requires rain, apply April-May or September
• Wait to burn until completely defoliated.
• Not recommended where water table is shallow.

Foliar
Picloram, Trade Name: Tordon 22K, Mix Recipe: 4qts/100gal, Tree Height: <12ft
Picloram+fluroxypyr, Trade Name: Surmount, Mix Recipe:1-2 gal/100 gal + 1-2 qts
surfactant, Tree Height:<3ft
Recommendations:

• Spray all branches.
• Use high volume foliar application.

Click to see how management types compare https://bit.ly/ERCBestManagementOSU
The Prairie Project

Eastern redcedar removal options include fire, mechanical, chemical and biological.
Stay tuned to learn about all four!
How to manage: FIRE
Small tree control = less risk, cost, & time.
Small trees: <6ft
Burn every 3-5 years to prevent seedling establishment.
Normal burn conditions & adequate fuels can control small trees.
(Temp: >32F, Humidity:30-50%, Wind:10-15mph, Fuel:2000lbs/ac)
Medium trees: 6ft-20ft
Burn every 3-5 years plus….
Ignite remaining trees after fire. Remove skeletons mechanically.
Cut-and-stuff method increases fuels, making fire more effective.
Greater fire intensity and higher fuel loads are more effective.
Large trees: >20ft
Fire is less effective. Mechanical controls recommended.
Click for single tree ignition https://bit.ly/IndvScorchedCedarOSU
Click for cut-and-stuff methods https://bit.ly/CutStuffCedarOSU
The Prairie Project

Eastern redcedar removal options include fire, mechanical, chemical and biological.
Stay tuned to learn about all four!
How to manage: MECHANICAL
Follow with fire every 3-5 years or mechanical must be repeated.
Hand Cutting: Chainsaw, loppers
Cut below lowest green branch.
Target females & small trees first.
Use on steep or rocky terrain.
Small acreages or few trees/acre.
Tree Shears & Saws: Skid-steer, tractor attachments
Cut below lowest green branch.
Rubber tires = less soil disturbance.
Trees are easier to cut after fire.
Mulchers & Shredders: Skid-steer, tractor, backhoe
No remaining skeletons.
Rubber tires = less soil disturbance.
Chaining: Two dozers with a chain between
Cost effective on a largescaleUse on steep or rocky terrain.
Large acreages or many trees/acre.
Click for more https://bit.ly/ERCBestManagementOSU
The Prairie Project

Eastern Redcedar Invasion into Prairies. Stop the Spread!
The first targets should be adult females and small trees.
Each female tree produces thousands of seeds.
Adult females are blue-green from a distance due to berry-like cones that are blue.
Adult males are brown from a distance due to the small and scaly cones.
Trees can produce seeds at 6 years old, control before they start.
A pasture in 2014 had scattered small trees. Within 5 years, the 2019 image shows visible cedar cover.
Click the link to learn more https://bit.ly/CedarInvasionOSU
The Prairie Project

Fire Increases Forage Quality
Patch burning native grassland provides both forage quality AND quantity for livestock and wildlife.
Forage Samples (October 2020)
Previous Burn: Spring (March 2019)
- Time since fire: 19 months
- Crude Protein: 4%
- Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN): 50%
- Forage Production: 4,435 lbs/ac [QUANTITY]
Recent Burn: Summer (August 2020)
- Time since fire: 2 months
- Crude Protein: 11% [QUALITY]
- Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN): 55%
- Forage Production: 350 lbs/ac
Stocking rates were calculated for grazing across the entire pasture.

Fire was Frequent in the Great Plains Before 1850

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Estimated Fire Frequency (Years Between Repeated Fires) shown on the map.

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Data for Fire Frequency Model

- Weather & Climate Data

- Fuel Physical Chemistry

- Tree Ring Fires Scars (170 sites)

- Charcoal Deposits

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Map from Guyette et al. 2012 Predicting Fire Frequency with Chemistry and Climate

https://bit.ly/GuyetteFireMap

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Fire + Goats = Redberry Juniper Suppression
Fire makes redberry juniper resprouts…
1. More palatable: lower feeding deterrent chemicals (monoterpenes)
2. Shorter: more accessible to goats
Monoterpene concentrations

• 3 month regrowth after fire: 5 ug oil/mg juniper fresh weight
• 11 month regrowth after fire: 10 ug oil/mg juniper fresh weight
• mature/unburned: 12 ug oil/mg juniper fresh weight

Maximize suppression by grazing goats when new juniper growth appears.
Data from Monoterpene production in redberry juniper foliage following fire (2007).
https://doi.org/10.2111/04-160R2.1

Patches with different times since fire & grazing benefit BREEDING BIRD diversity!
Having all in one pasture can provide habitat for more species.
From Fuhlendorf et al. 2006. Should heterogeneity be the basis for conservation? Grassland bird response to fire and grazing. https://doi.org/.../1051-0761(2006)016[1706:SHBTBF]2.0.CO;2
Killdeer
Conservation Rating: Low concern
- Time Since Fire: 0-1 year
- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Highly preferred (focused grazing)
Lark Sparrow
- Conservation Rating: Low concern
- Time Since Fire: 0-1 year
- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Highly preferred (focused grazing)
Upland Sandpiper
- Conservation Rating: Low concern
- Time Since Fire: 0-1 AND 1-2 years
- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Highly preferred (focused grazing) AND Somewhat preferred (some grazing)
Grasshopper Sparrow
- Conservation Rating: Steep decline
- Time Since Fire: 1-2 AND 2-3 years
- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Somewhat preferred (some grazing) AND Unpreferred (mostly ungrazed)
Eastern Meadowlark
- Conservation Rating: Steep decline
- Time Since Fire: 1-2 AND 2-3 years
- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Somewhat preferred (some grazing) AND Unpreferred (mostly ungrazed)
Dickcissel
- Conservation Rating: Low concern
- Time Since Fire: 2-3 AND 3+ years
- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Unpreferred (mostly ungrazed) AND Unpreferred (ungrazed)
Henslow's Sparrow
- Conservation Rating: Declining
- Time Since Fire: 3+ years
- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Unpreferred (ungrazed)
Conservation Concern: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/

Patch Burn Grazing Provides Varying Habitat Needs for Many BREEDING BIRD Species

Having all in one pasture can provide habitat for more species.

From Fuhlendorf et al. 2006. Should heterogeneity be the basis for conservation? Grassland bird response to fire and grazing. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17069365/

Killdeer

Conservation Rating: Low concern

- Time Since Fire: 0-1 year

- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Highly preferred (focused grazing)

Lark Sparrow

- Conservation Rating: Low concern

- Time Since Fire: 0-1 year

- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Highly preferred (focused grazing)

Upland Sandpiper

- Conservation Rating: Low concern

- Time Since Fire: 0-1 AND 1-2 years

- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Highly preferred (focused grazing) AND Somewhat preferred (some grazing)

Grasshopper Sparrow

- Conservation Rating: Steep decline

- Time Since Fire: 1-2 AND 2-3 years

- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Somewhat preferred (some grazing) AND Unpreferred (mostly ungrazed)

Eastern Meadowlark

- Conservation Rating: Steep decline

- Time Since Fire: 1-2 AND 2-3 years

- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Somewhat preferred (some grazing) AND Unpreferred (mostly ungrazed)

Dickcissel

- Conservation Rating: Low concern

- Time Since Fire: 1-2, 2-3 AND 3+ years

- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Unpreferred (mostly ungrazed) AND Unpreferred (ungrazed)

Henslow's Sparrow

- Conservation Rating: Declining

- Time Since Fire: 3+ years

- Grazing Preference (no cross fencing): Unpreferred (ungrazed)

Conservation Concern: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/

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Prickly Pear, Patch Burning & Pronghorn 

at the USDA Agricultural Research Service Central Plains Experimental Range

- 13 inches annual rainfall

- shortgrass prairie

- fuel loads 490-1,048 lbs/ac

Pasture Sizes: 160 acres

Cattle Grazing: yearlings from mid-May to September

PRONGHORN DENSITY on burned vs unburned

- Winter: 26 times greater on burn patch

- Spring: 7 times greater on burn patch

PRICKLY PEAR DENSITY

- 54-71% reduction on patch burns with pronghorn grazing

- 6 years after fire, prickly pear density remained lower

Fire Removed Spines & Increased Use of Prickly Pear by Pronghorns

Data from Patch Burn Grazing Management in a Semiarid Grassland: Consequences for Pronghorn, Plains Pricklypear, and Wind Erosion (Augustine & Derner, 2015) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2014.12.010

Prickly Pear, Patch Burning & Pronghorn
at the USDA Agricultural Research Service Central Plains Experimental Range
- 13 inches annual rainfall
- shortgrass prairie
- fuel loads 490-1,048 lbs/ac
Pasture Sizes: 160 acres
Cattle Grazing: yearlings from mid-May to September
PRONGHORN DENSITY on burned vs unburned
- Winter: 26 times greater on burn patch
- Spring: 7 times greater on burn patch
PRICKLY PEAR DENSITY
- 54-71% reduction on patch burns with pronghorn grazing
- 6 years after fire, prickly pear density remained lower
Fire Removed Spines & Increased Use of Prickly Pear by Pronghorns
Data from Patch Burn Grazing Management in a Semiarid Grassland: Consequences for Pronghorn, Plains Pricklypear, and Wind Erosion (Augustine & Derner, 2015) [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2014.12.010](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2014.12.010)

Have you heard the phrase "If it won't hold water, it won't hold goats"?
Here are 3 fence types that will hold goats

• 8-10 Strand Wire: Additional wire can be added to existing barbed wire fence
• Barbed Wire + Electric Wire: 1-3 strands of electric wire between lower barbed wire strands
• Net Wire: Full height or half height with barbed wire above (goat heads can get caught, avoid 6x6" and 6x12" spacing)