Voyageurs National Park in International Falls, Minnesota, has announced plans to carry out prescribed burns in selected wetlands during February and March 2026. The areas targeted for this operation include Black Bay and Cranberry Bay on Rainy Lake.
Additional sites on Irwin Bay on Lake Kabetogama may also be subjected to these burns, depending on feasibility. The park staff will be responsible for conducting these activities, which are part of a controlled strategy to manage the park’s ecosystem.
This initiative, known as winter cattail burns, forms part of the park’s broader management plan. These controlled burns are conducted with the aim of maintaining the health and biodiversity of the park’s wetland habitats. Further details can be found on the Voyageurs National Park website.