In recent years megafires wildfires exceeding 100000 acres have become increasingly common in the westernunited states and as climate changes the frequency and intensity of such events is expected…

In recent years megafires wildfires exceeding 100000 acres have become increasingly common in the westernunited states and as climate changes the frequency and intensity of such events is expected to increase. Thestate of oregon has experienced more than 20 megafires since 2000 but the scale and scope of the 2020 and 2021FIRE seasons the worst in a century made IT clear that a future of intense megafires in the pacific northwesthas arrived. In response to the anticipated rise in the frequency and intensity of wildfire in the pacificnorthwest IT is imperative to understand how wildlife respond to large and severe fires and how to best manageforested landscapes to mitigate some of the negative effects and improve ecosystem recovery. To better understandpostfire response and recovery of wildlife the odfw wildlife research program initiated an indepth monitoringeffort following two severe megafires in the dixon and indigo wildlife management units in douglas countyoregon. Our results will demonstrate how fire intensity prefire landscape management and micrositecharacteristics impact the occupancy distribution and local colonization and extinction i.e. turnover ofwildlife including 39 oregon conservation strategy species table 1. This effort will allow odfw to developappropriate recommendations and polices for conservation management and restoration of a large array ofwildlife and habitats impacted by wildfires in the pacific northwest.