Winter cattail burns to happen in Voyageurs National Park

Prescribed burns in Voyageurs National Park

(National Park Service / Cat Berrick_

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. – Voyageurs National Park staff will be conducting prescribed burns in selected wetlands in and near Black Bay and Cranberry Bay on Rainy Lake in February and March 2026.

The prescribed burns will remove unwanted invasive cattails and dead vegetation.  They also have the goals of rejuvenating wetland plant communities, and reducing woody plant encroachment.

Burning operations will only occur during daylight hours and will depend on ice conditions that allow access to burn areas.  Additional sites on Irwin Bay on Lake Kabetogama may be burned if possible.

Visitors should avoid areas of active burning and smoke.

The National Parks Service says hybrid cattails have invaded approximately 500-acres of wetlands in Voyageurs National Park , displacing native plants such as wild rice, sedges, rushes, and native cattail.

The Voyageurs Wetland Restoration Project is a long-term project to improve habitat for wildlife, provide enhanced fishing opportunities, and support natural wetlands through increased native plant diversity.