Long Road To Get Here

Fourteen years ago I published a short observation of Wisconsin's efforts to measure if the Emerald Ash Borer had spread To the Peninsula.  Inevitably, it did and the work of this non-native pest has left its mark.  The landscape is now covered with dead and dying ash trees.

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) kills ash trees by feeding on the tree's inner bark, disrupting the flow of essential nutrients and water. The larvae tunnel under the bark, creating "S"-shaped galleries and weakening the tree's ability to transport resources to its leaves and roots. Over time, this damage can lead to canopy thinning, branch dieback, and ultimately, death.

All of our mature ash trees are toast although just as with the elm species considered extirpated three generations ago natural regeneration persists, plenty of ash seedling continue to sprout in the forest understory.  So, maybe there is hope.  We dodged a bullet as the trees we planted decades ago were a mixed bag of native Wisconsin conifers and hardwoods.  Yes, the ash is dead or on life-support depending-upon how you view the situation but most everything else is thriving.  Meanwhile, some of my neighbors have woodlots dominated by ash and it breaks one's heart to drive by it on a regular basis.

Recently we hired a contractor to remove the dead ash from immediately around the house and all the dead trees on our side of the county road that posed a threat of toppling-over, landing in the road thus creating a hazard to vehicular traffic.

A crew of four, mechanized equipment; it took a day and a half.

From around the house, most of the logs were removed, smaller trees and the slash were chipped.  Along a quarter mile of road everything was dragged aside and left in the woods.  I have more firewood now if I'm inclined to cut it, split it and fetch it.   And boy has the view from the porch changed!

 

The Big Pecker

For a awhile there has been a persistent hammering coming from the treeline along Silver Creek.  Mind you there is an abundance of dead and dying ash along the creek banks and in the swampy slough to the west. 

I already had a pretty good idea of who might be the maestro of the anvil chorus emanating from the woods - but I hadn't had an opportunity to confirm the identity.

So the dog and I went to investigate on one of our walks.

Check this out.

A big old ash tree with any number of cavities under construction.   

 
At the base of the tree was a sizable trash midden of wood chips.  

And while I didn't catch it on the job; these holes belong to none other than Wisconsin's largest pecker.  The pileated woodpecker.  

 

Female Pileated - Nestwatch Image

The name derives from the the Latin pileatus - "wearing a cap".

This bird is about the size of a crow and announces its territory by drumming on hollow trees, chimneys and utility poles.

It's favorite food is carpenter ants and it will carve oval holes up to several feet long in tree trunks. It feeds it's young regurgitated insects.  Yum!

 

Anyway, since this on one of our regular routes we'll be monitoring progress to determine if these are nesting cavities or if the birds are simply disassembling the trees for purposes of feeding.  

 

One of the consequences of Emerald Ash Borer is an abundance of dead and dying ash on the landscape.  I have never been witness to so many numbers and varieties of woodpeckers in my life.  Lordy.

 

Headstart

From one of our daily mile-long walks there was this.

For sure there's a trail camera in the photo - yet that's not the point.

If you look carefully there is an oak seeding that has taken root at the base of the tree the camera is strapped-to.  

That tree is a green ash.  And it is doomed to the depredations of the emerald ash borer.

Ma Nature is a smart mother to allow that oak the opportunity to become established. 

Ash is gonna strike-out.

Oak is in the one deck circle.

EAB

From our walk yesterday there was this....

Galleries formed by EAB larvae

With everything leafing-out it is easier to spot the dead and dying ash trees. Evidence of emerald ash borer abundant.  

Adult emerges from D-shaped exit hole

Ugh.  

On a happier note the Wisconsin State Flowers are blooming up a storm.

Viola sororia - known commonly as the common blue violet, is a short-stemmed herbaceous perennial plant that is native to eastern North America. 

  
And we saw our first two monarch butterflies - or maybe it was the same one twice. 

NEWFO

Northeast Wisconsin Forest Owners - a Chapter that belongs to WWOA - Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association.

Acronyms aside most of Wisconsin's forested land is owned by individuals and families.  Counties are next and state, federal and industrial (paper companies) fall to the bottom of the list.

It's good to have an advocate if you're a private forest owner.  And the local chapters periodically hold events known as Field Days - providing an opportunity to learn more about sustainable forestry with your peers.

Last weekend the NEWFO Chapter held a field day that included a consulting forester and a DNR forester.  The takeaway was what we're all going to do when the emerald ash borer shows-up in our woodlands.  It's already here on the peninsula and it's on the move. 

Purple Bug Traps

Conducting a survey for the emerald ash borer - the State of Wisconsin has hung a bunch of 12" x 24" triangular purple insect traps in ash trees along roadsides all over the peninsula.

The purple traps, which are sticky and baited with a compound that simulates a distressed ash tree, are designed to attract the destructive emerald ash borer, should it be present.


Every time I see a dead or failing ash tree I cringe.  It's the dominant species around here.

God help us when the ash borer arrives.