The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began prescribed burns Tuesday at the two refuges it manages in southeastern Indiana.

Prescribed burns are used to improve wildlife habitat and reduce hazardous fuel concentrations that lead to wildfires at refuges, including Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge east of Seymour and Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge in northern Jefferson County, according to a news release.

The prescribed burn season lasts through the end of November, and controlled burns will be implemented on both refuges throughout the fall as weather allows.

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