May 2025 http:// www. canadacreekranch. com
Q:
Biologist Alleigh Pagels Talks About Our Forest After The Big Ice Storm
Give us your thoughts on the massive ice storm of 2025.
Q:
Did the ice storm affect our lakes, creeks, and fish?
A: |
As someone living in Northern Michigan, I find it devastating. As a mom, ensuring my family would be warm and safe from the conditions was scary. And as a biologist, I watched Mother Nature naturally reset our forest. |
A: |
Streamside, there will be a little more cover for the fish and turtles, which is good. That’ s why we’ re not logging up to the riverbank. These areas are very sensitive and are to be left untouched. |
Q: How do you mean? A:
Northern Lower Michigan hasn’ t experienced a major forest fire in several decades, which is good news. The bad news is that our forest is very old, so old that trees are decaying and highly susceptible to disease. The canopies of leaves in these forest stands are too tall for the deer and elk to reach, blocking sunlight from reaching the forest floor, which slows the growth of much of the low browse they need.
Q: And the ice storm changed that? A:
This storm thinned the forest canopy significantly. In the short term, tons of nutritious limbs containing buds lie on the forest floor for our wildlife to eat. This also creates more natural bedding that will reduce home ranges of deer and create more cover to protect fawns, game birds, and other wildlife. In the long term, our property will have more regrowth, offering more diverse food and cover for all our wildlife.
Q: I’ ve also heard we’ re facing some real dangers, too.
A:
As the fallen timber dries, there’ s an increased risk of a fire. That’ s a huge concern right now. We’ re also concerned about oak wilt and other diseases spreading through our forest. Those are the main reasons we are trying to harvest some of the most damaged trees now.
Q: Will this affect CCR’ s planting efforts? A:
Q:
A:
In the short run, it will take some pressure off Canada Creek Ranch’ s food plots.
Will we be able to cut fewer acres next year as part of CCR’ s forest management program?
It’ s still a little early to tell. We’ re waiting to see how well our remaining trees bud this spring. Then we’ ll reassess whether our forest management program will need to be adjusted.
Q: So, what comes next?
A: Major reforestation. We are planting over 90,000 trees, beginning with oak trees, jack pine, white pine, red pine, shrubs such as elderberry and American hazelnut, and adding more apple trees, some of which are being fostered in the cabin area.
Q: Sounds like a lot of work. A:
It is, but it’ s worth it! We love our forest at Canada Creek Ranch. And we’ re doing our best to ensure our trees and wildlife have everything they need to thrive.
Q: Thanks, Alleigh. A: You’ re welcome.
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