Natural revegetation of burned areas with willow, grass and berries provides food for many of Alaska's big game species. Animals usually move away from the flames well before they are endangered, and few die in the fires.
For the duration of the study, current environmental-awareness briefing of troops, revegetation programs and firefighting efforts will continue and/or be expanded.
While at Yellowstone, the president will visit some of the areas charred from the fires last summer that are now undergoing revegetation, Fitzwater said.