conservation

How a small pest is threatening to do major damage to Michigan forests

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A lone eastern hemlock tree in Harbor Springs, Michigan on August 18, 2021. If you’ve ever walked through Michigan’s northern forests there’s a great chance you might have seen an eastern hemlock tree. The trees are among some of the longest living trees in the entire state, and now they may need our help. Hemlock woolly adelgid was recorded in Michigan for the first time in Ottawa County in 2015 . Since then, state and conservation organizations across Michigan have been on high alert to make sure the pest isn’t able to spread and destroy our hemlocks, and with them, our local ecosystems.

Up north, at the Little Traverse Conservancy, volunteer manager Cacia Lesh, is helping to organize and train volunteers to survey for HWA.