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The Forest thru the Trees
In keeping with the season, this week’s article is sorta
like a picnic of tree-related tidbits:
An App for That?
Not sure about that tree in your yard or along the
trail? Is it the species that you think? Could it be a
non-native invasive, such as buckthorn? Or is it a rare
find?
Modern technology and the ubiquitous cell phone now
means you can identify trees with ease. A new, FREE,
Smart Phone app, called Leafsnap, can identify
your tree with a simple click of your phone’s camera.
Take a picture of the leaf and a shape recognition
algorithm takes over, providing you with the likely
species identification.
Instant ID requires that you have Internet access, such
as Wi-Fi, but the app can be run later if you’re in the
woods or otherwise out of cell service. According to
online reviews, an uncluttered background works best –
in other words, not lots of other trees or leaves in the
photograph, so the program can focus on just one. The
software’s species list is currently limited to the
Northeastern US, but it appears most, if not all, of our
North Woods native trees are included. The developers
are hoping to have all North American trees in the
identification database In the near future.
The genesis of Leafsnap was the realization that many
techniques used for face recognition could be applied to
other species. Columbia University and the University of
Maryland designed and implemented the visual recognition
system; the knowledge and biological data comes from The
Smithsonian Institute.
According to the Leafsnap website (http://leafsnap.com),
this is the first in a series of electronic field
guides. The goal is to enable ‘citizen’ scientists to
increase their knowledge of local plants and animals and
eventually, help professional scientists map and monitor
populations nationwide. |
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Oak Wilt
Oak wilt is an exotic fungal disease that kills oak
trees. The highest risk of infection is during the
spring and early summer. During the growing season, any
wound to the tree can be an entry point for this
disease. Pruning, construction damage, and other wounds
(including naturally occurring ones) are potential
infection points.
Throughout the country, county road crews and ROW
maintenance crews are leading contributors to
unintentional spread of the disease. Movement of
firewood between counties, let alone across states, is
another common cause. The good news is that, in contrast
to Dutch elm disease, oak wilt can be readily
controlled. All of us – homeowners, loggers, arborists,
farmers, etc. – just need to adopt some simple measures
to reduce the chance of a widespread outbreak.
In the North Woods, the highest risk for above ground
oak wilt infection from pruning is April, May, and June,
so the safest time to prune is November - March. Once
infected, the disease can only be eradicated by severing
or removing the tree’s root systems – certainly not
cheap or always feasible! And while residential and
other high value trees can be protected with a
fungicidal injection, there is no cure, and thus no way
to save, an oak that gets the disease.
Prevention is the best treatment. When oak trees are
pruned, they release chemicals that are attractive to
certain insects. Some beetles are vectors of the oak
wilt pathogen (Ceratocystis fagacearum). If these
beetles land on a recently pruned tree, they may carry
spores from an infected tree. Since pruning cuts do not
heal instantly, the exposed tree tissue may be at risk
for up to 8 days. Wounds created during the spring are
more susceptible to infection than wounds from the late
summer or fall.
Oak wilt is easily identified in red oaks by the rapid
wilting of affected trees. After symptoms first appear,
a red oak will generally wilt completely in 2-6 weeks.
The trees wilt from the top of the crown down, and on
individual leaves from leaf tip and the bases. Fallen
leaves are often green at the base. Infected white oaks
die much more slowly, typically a branch at a time. They
may even survive for many years in a depleted condition,
with a leaf discoloration that resembles autumn colors
all summer.
If you think you might have oak wilt (not common but
already present in our area), please contact me at
932-1330 or mfullman@fs.fed.us.
Safe, Healthy, Happy
Summer is a great time to enjoy the Ottawa National
Forest! All of our campgrounds are open, many of our
trails have been recently maintained, and our beaches
and lakes aren't crowded. Whether you’re interest is
fishing, hiking, exploring, canoeing, or just reading a
book by a campfire, there’s something for you!
Of course, we hope you choose to recreate on your Forest
for many summers to come, so the following are a few
tips to make your visit healthy and safe:
·
Wear a lifejacket. You’ve heard me mention
this before – you may not have time to put on a
lifejacket once you’re in the water, especially if the
water is colder than 68° or if you’re wearing clothes or
boots that are bulky or heavy. Besides, when was the
last time you actually treaded water??? A seat cushion
is for seating– a life jacket for staying alive.
·
Clean your boats, every time. Our lakes
are no longer pristine; they have Eurasian water
milfoil, and zebra mussels, and spiny water fleas, and
rusty crawfish, and other stuff that you don’t want on
you, in you, or around you (fish don’t want these things
around, in, or on them either)! Cleaning the gunk off
your boat, trailer, and waders takes just a few minutes.
Please.
·
Tell someone where you’re going and when
you’ll be back. A local volunteer friend of mine
regularly checks some trails, making sure they’re still
clear of blowdowns and well-marked. When he didn’t
return on time, his wife called – not quite in a panic
but very concerned. Turns out, his exact location wasn’t
as readily known as it could have been. Thankfully, he
was ‘found’ soon after, already in his car and returning
home, but muddy and bruised from a nasty slide down a
slippery slope. You may be the most skilled outdoorsman
ever, but stuff happens: rocks, trees, dirt, waves, and
darkness. Not many of us want to spend a long, lonely
(thirsty, hungry) night in the woods with nothing but
mosquitoes to keep us company.
·
Check for ticks. Ottawa Forest employees
are reporting higher than normal numbers of ticks this
year. Many (maybe half?!) are deer ticks – the kind that
can carry Lyme and other diseases. Ticks take a while to
find a good nibbling spot, so you’ve probably got time
to enjoy your walk in the woods. Just make sure you do a
thorough tick check when you’re done. The safest,
healthiest way to remove an embedded tick is to use
blunt, angled forceps or
tweezers: grab and pull gently. Be sure
to remove the mouthparts and the ‘cement’ it secreted to
attach itself to you. Do not use sharp
forceps; do not crush, puncture, or squeeze the
tick's body. Do not apply
hot matches or cover it with
petroleum jelly, nail polish, alcohol, gasoline, butter,
or anything else. Do
not twist off its head, because doing so often
causes the tick to spit fluids into the bite (you).
Last Minute Packing
Bug dope. Water. Snack. Map. Lifejacket. Flashlight.
Cellphone with Leafsnap app. Told a friend. Check! See
YOU in the woods!
Melanie Fullman
Bessemer District Ranger, Ottawa NF
906-932-1330 x539; cell: 906-364-0413
E6248 US Hwy. 2; Ironwood, MI 49938
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