Fire is a natural form of disturbance that shapes resource availability across spatial and temporal scales. As fire regimes change in response to climate change and anthropogenic factors, further work is necessary to understand how wildfire disturbance impacts medium-large (>0.5-kg) mammals. We used autologistic occupancy models to determine how ten mammal species responded to four wildfire events in Orange County and Santa Cruz County, California, USA, across a landscape and over time. Most species increased usage of sites affected by higher fire severity and/or heterogeneity, in the burned interior or along burned edges. Mesocarnivores increased their use of burned areas after a fire, while small herbivores and large carnivores did not exhibit a strong response to wildfire over time. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) were the only species to increase use of sites with lower fire severity and sites in unburned areas, and during mid- to late-successional stages. Although most mammals appeared to prefer landscape heterogeneity and resource pulses created by more severe wildfire, there was some variation. Wildlife managers should draw on region-specific studies when seeking to reintroduce healthy fire into fire-adapted ecosystems.

Erin Weiner, BS, MS, is an early career ecologist with a passion for investigating how climate-driven natural and anthropogenic disturbances impact the integrity of California's unique ecosystems and wildlife populations. She holds advanced degrees in Biological Sciences from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and Long Beach State University, and has spent many hours managing long-term ecological monitoring projects, collecting data in the field, and engaging with the public on topics ranging from research to climate change to ecology through outreach. Erin is seeking to apply her expertise, passion, and diverse skillset to a career in wildlife conservation and management in her home state of California.