Before European settlers came to the Great Plains, fire was a relatively common phenomenon, coming both from natural sources such as lightning strikes, and from Native Americans. Native Americans used fire for a variety of reasons, including its use in controlling grazers. When a prairie is burned, the regrowth is very luxurious, so the bison would be attracted to it, and the Native Americans could have a better chance of hunting them. Prescribed burning demonstrations will be done on the north portion of the planting to help keep our prairie healthy!