A large fire at Point Pelee National Park will actually be good for the local marsh habitat.
Essex Region Conservation Authority Biologist Dan Lebedyk says the area where the fire sparked Wednesday evening, was very thick with cattails, so it will now open up and diversify.
"You'll have arrowheads and swamp rose mallow, and those other plants that have been prohibited from growing because the cattail stand is so dense -- they're allowed to get more light," he explains.
The fire will also kill some of the invasive phragmities stalk, says Lebedyk, which gives easier access to underwater roots that need to be treated with herbicides.
The only damage to wildlife that could have been done is to marsh birds or muskrats nesting in the cattail. But the biologist believes the cattail was so thick in the affected area that it barely allowed for any muskrat huts, and it's too early in the season for many birds to have started nesting.
Leamington fire officials say the blaze, which covered more than 125 ha., is now out.
Point Pelee National Park will remain closed until further notice.
