Alien grasses are making more frequent US wildfires -- study

[progree]

Study: Alien grasses are making more frequent US wildfires, 11/4/19

For much of the United States, invasive grass species are making wildfires more frequent, especially in fire-prone California, a new study finds.

Twelve non-native species act as "little arsonist grasses," said study co-author Bethany Bradley, a University of Massachusetts professor of environmental conservation.

Wherever the common Mediterranean grass invades, including California's southern desert, fires flare up three times more often. And cheatgrass, which covers about one-third of the Intermountain West, is a big-time fire promoter, Bradley said.

Experts say the areas burning now in California are more shrubs and grasses than forests, despite what President Donald Trump tweeted over the weekend.

More: https://kstp.com/national/study-alien-grasses-are-making-more-frequent-us-wildfires/5543488/?cat=12678

[MBS]

1. Yup, this is correct.

The “golden hills” of California are “gold”- that is, dried-out European grasses brought to CA (I think)courtesy of the hooves of Spanish ranchers’ cattle

[MFM008]

2. Ancient Alien grass?

[safeinOhio]

3. It spread West from

Area 51.