Our forests here in Michigan are one of our greatest natural resources, with over 19 million acres of forested land covering more than half the state. These forests serve us in a variety of ways, including the
numerous recreational opportunities they provide, improving water quality and reducing soil erosion, producing timber products, and serving as habitat for wildlife. Many species of wildlife rely on forests for their life cycle.
Amphibians such as wood frogs and spotted salamanders, for example, lay their eggs in seasonal ponds that form in many of our woodlands during the spring. Animals that utilize forests are able to gain shelter from the elements, protection from predators, and sources of food. Yet not all forests
are equal in this regard. Different types of forests have different benefits that may favor certain wildlife species.
Young aspen groves, for example, provide critical habitat for ruffed grouse, which rely on the dense stands that they form for protection while nesting and raising their young. Grouse also consume the flower buds of aspen trees as a survival food in winter and early spring. Snow shoe hares, on the other hand, tend to heavily favor conifer forests. Lowland conifer forest types are common in the Eastern UP, with forests containing spruce, cedar, and fir being vital habitat for hares due to the overhead cover they
provide during the winter months. Some birds such as the Northern Goshawk, the Cerulean Warbler, and the Evening Grosbeak need extensive blocks of mature forests with large trees in order to thrive.
Forests also have a strong influence on the fish species that live in the streams and rivers that flow through them. A stream flowing through an area without overhanging trees or adequate streambank vegetation will experience much higher temperatures from lack of shade and increased sedimentation from soil erosion. Both of these things have negative impacts on cold-water species such as trout, which need cooler water temperatures to survive and exposed gravel on which to spawn.
When you begin to recognize the variety of forest types that different animals need to thrive, it becomes clear that we need to manage for habitat diversity. Rather than managing all forests the same way, it is essential to make sure we have both young and old forests, with a high diversity of different tree species and forest compositions. Forest management for wildlife may include practices such as planting seedlings that will eventually grow into large trees that provide shelter and food, particularly nut and
seed-bearing trees such as oaks and pines. Cutting trees can also be beneficial for wildlife in certain circumstances. Aspen groves, for example, will vigorously resprout following cutting, and the dense young stands serve as good habitat for a variety of species. Managing forests for timber also
can serve the purpose of keeping forests from being converted to other uses. A parking lot is not good wildlife habitat. Another practice that can be beneficial for wildlife is deliberately creating or purposefully choosing to leave snags (standing dead trees). These trees will become hollowed out and filled with holes as they age, providing excellent shelter and foraging opportunities for various birds and small mammals. Sometimes the best thing to do for wildlife is to decrease human impact on the forest,
minimizing disturbance from things such as roads and trails that will
increase habitat fragmentation and serve as vectors for invasive species. With proper care and consideration for the land we can continue to use all of these forest management practices and more to preserve and protect our wildlife here in the state of Michigan.
By Logan Ferguson, CLMCD District Forester
