Hemlock forests are found throughout the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. According to recent MDNR inventory data, more than 173 million hemlock trees grow in Michigan.
Wildlife Benefits
Hemlock trees in Michigan provide a lot of benefits across the board for wildlife and fish species. If you can think back to fourth grade science class we learned that living things need food, water and shelter- hemlock trees benefit all of these important foundational aspects here in the UP. The structure of hemlock trees actually protect the forest floor from deep snow and cold winds in the winter. This benefits white-tailed deer wintering grounds, or shelter areas, where they congregate in large numbers to keep warm and search for food sources. Along with keeping areas warm in the winter, hemlock trees provide shade to cold water streams like the ones here in the UP that are home to thermosensitive fish species such as salmon and trout. Essentially, hemlock trees are like a climate control mechanism to balance out the ecosystem for wildlife. Hemlock also helps provide nesting habitat for the smaller song bird species and they even feed on the seeds of hemlock. Hemlock cones and bark provide a food source for small mammals found in the Upper Peninsula like porcupines and moles. A benefit to all.
Ecosystem Benefits
It could be said that repeating the wildlife benefits would be equally as well here because of the thermoregulating effect they have on their location but they do more than that. An article by Russell Kidd states, "According to the USDA Forest Service, eastern hemlock is the most shade tolerant of all tree species and can survive with as little as 5 percent of full sunlight shining upon the forest floor. It is also a slow-growing, long-lived tree species that can take 250 years or more to mature on certain sites." This is a good sign because it is a specific niche that hemlock can fill to create just the right type of habitat. Eastern hemlock is commonly found in dense stands near moist soils (often along rivers, streams and waterways) or isolated in hardwood stands.
Forest Threats
Recently, a few populations of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) have been found in the lower peninsula of Michigan. HWA is a small insect pest that is capable of killing hemlock trees and spreading leaving behind a wake of dead hemlocks. If it spreads to the UP it's bad news because of our ecosystem types depend on hemlock as a keystone species. Efforts have been made to stop the spread, treat infestations, educate on HWA and implement preemptive survey efforts to make sure the UP habitats stay safe and we catch it early if it shows up. It is important for people who reside in or visit Michigan to be diligent in protecting forests and other ecosystems from threats. To spot HWA look for white, cottony looking material at the base of hemlock needles on outer branches. Trees that have a lot of HWA may look sickly and have discolored needles.
https://www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/insects/hemlock-woolly-adelgid
Where to see Hemlocks
This 60,000-acre park has more than half of its forest as old-growth forest, including stands of large hemlocks and hardwoods. The park also has the Presque Isle River Trails, a 2.5-mile loop that passes through hemlock and hardwood forests.
Along the Black River Road there are hemlock forests on both sides as you approach Black River Harbor. Many waterfalls, trails and scenic views draw tourists and locals to the area for outdoor recreation activities. Hemlock is a factor that cools the air around these trails and darkens the forest making a contrasting backdrop for the glistening falls.
Located on the Keweenaw Fault, waterfalls and gorges are shaded by hemlocks in another dark contrasting forest. It is like stepping back in time to when hemlocks first colonized the UP.
Stonington, Michigan is blessed with a few stands of old growth forest. One stand that is easy to visit is along the Maywood History Trail near Rapid River. The trail is inside the Little Bay de Noc Recreation Area on Stonington Point just south of U.S. 2. It is so majestic that it has become known as the Hemlock Cathedral. This is a fun place to visit for other activities as well.
Sylvania has has a lot of pollen studies done to determine when hemlock was first on the landscape (about 3,100 years ago) but it's not just the ages of the trees that are old at Sylvania. This forest community that hemlocks have ushered in has been around for thousands of years as well. If you are in a grove of hemlock in Sylvania, chances are there have been hemlock there for at least a thousand years. Going on the trails at Sylvania is a pristine experience that plant lovers will not forget.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/eastern_hemlock_are_at_risk_in_michigan_from_pest
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/habitat_provided_by_eastern_hemlock_forests_may_be_in_jeopardy
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