Managed Chaos: Fire & Grazing Unite In The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve - BGWT 108

In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, we travel through the story of the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve with Bob Hamilton from The Nature Conservancy. 
Bob shares how this iconic Oklahoma landscape transitioned from a failed federal park plan to a flagship private conservation project. 
He recounts the acquisition of the land, the reintroduction of bison, and the development of a dynamic management model that utilizes fire and grazing to simulate natural prairie processes.

Joining Oklahoma State University’s John Weir and Dr. Laura Goodman, Bob discusses how fire behaves on the prairie, how patch-burn grazing supports a variety of wildlife, and how GPS tracking has helped compare cattle and bison behavior. 
From historic land surveys to present-day fireline strategies, this conversation highlights decades of dedication to restoring and maintaining Oklahoma’s native grasslands.

Ten Things You'll Learn

1. The Tallgrass Prairie Preserve was established following a failed federal plan, leading to private conservation leadership.
2. Bob Hamilton played a pivotal role in land acquisition and ecosystem restoration.
3. The preserve uses a “managed chaos” approach to mimic natural fire-grazing interactions.
4. Bison were reintroduced in 1993 with a genetically diverse, disease-free starter herd.
5. Patch-burn grazing creates varied habitats that benefit different wildlife species.
6. Historical vegetation maps indicate that the Cross Timbers forest existed in 1872 and remains extant today.
7. Prescribed fires are conducted without traditional firebreaks, instead using water and topography to create a safe environment.
8. GPS-collared studies show that cattle and bison gravitate toward recently burned areas due to the improved forage quality.
9. Collaborative research with OSU has refined patch-burn grazing models and invasive species control.
10. Diversity in prairie structure supports nesting birds, small mammals, and native plants.

Find all resources at BlazinGrazinWildThings.com