This Week at Door County’s Crossroads: WI DNR on Beech Bark Disease

Posted on 05. Jul, 2010 by in Nature

The words of an AFT musical, Lumberjacks in Love come to mind this week because we at Crossroads are thinking about the possibility of chopping down trees.

“If it’s not one thing, it’s two!” sing the lumberjacks… and that pretty much sums up the forest threat du jour from Beech Bark Disease .

On Friday, June 9 at 6 pm, representatives from the Wisconsin DNR invite the community to an informational program on “Beech Bark Disease”, which has been found in several areas of Door County. This often fatal tree disease has not one, but two causes. Beech Bark Disease is initiated by a tiny wingless insect called Beech Bark Scale. Yes, it is an invasive species. The trouble begins when the females infest a beech tree. I blame the female scale insects because there are no males. These scale insects reproduce parthenogenically… no males or mating required.

The beech scales lay eggs which hatch into tiny, wingless larvae. These larvae have legs which enable them to crawl to likely places on a beech tree. Some larvae may also be carried by birds, or more likely, blown by the wind from tree to tree. Because in the East the disease is usually found in and around campgrounds,  researchers believe that some of the insects are probably transported by moving firewood.

The larvae insert their sucking mouthparts into the tree bark and feed on the sap. At this point, the scale insects molt, lose their legs (which means from then on, they are immobile), and begin exuding a wax which looks rather like wool.  The wax-covered insects overwinter and in spring, molt into their adult form. Because all of the adults are all female, they all lay eggs. Populations increase exponentially.

In heavily infested trees, the tree trunks seem to be covered with white wool. This would not be a big deal except that the tiny wounds made by the scale insects allow fungal spores to enter the beech bark. If the scale insects and one of several species of fungi are in the same area, we’ve got trouble.  The fungus can weaken and even kill mature beech trees. Frequently, the top parts of infected beech trees break off during windstorms.

During the informational meeting Friday night, DNR foresters will present slides showing infected trees, answer questions about identification and discuss management options regarding this disease.

In Door County, the logging era was petering out by 1900, which is the depiction year of The Historical Village at The Crossroads, but even though lumberjacks no longer visited blacksmith shops, blacksmiths were still in great demand.

On Sunday, July 11 from 1:30 – 3:30, in addition to offering free tours of The Historical Village, the Door County Historical Society will open the Blacksmith Shop. Several volunteer blacksmiths will be demonstrating their skills and fashioning useful items at the forge. Visitors are encouraged to watch the process and if they’d like, buy the very items they see being made.

During July, both the Historical Village and the Collins Learning Center will be open to the public from 1:30 – 3:30 Sunday through Thursday. Our summer educator also will offer family programs focusing on history or nature Monday – Thursday at 11 am.

Crossroads at Big Creek is a donor-supported learning preserve welcoming learners of all ages for experience based activities in science, history and the environment. Trails are open to the public. The Historical Villlage and Collins Learning Center are located at 2041 Michigan Street in Sturgeon Bay. The Astronomy Campus is reached by the Utah Street Entrance. Visit www.crossroadsatbigcreek.org

Tuesday, July 6, 11:00
Family Program:Great Lakes Fish
Think you know all the fish that live in Lake Michigan, right at our shores? Discover them and learn much more. About an hour. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Free  

7:00
Lecture: “Cosmic Distances”
Visitors are always welcome at the monthly meetings of the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society. After a short meeting, Dr. Ray Stonecipher will present the feature lecture: “Cosmic Distances, part 1.” in the Stonecipher Astronomy Center. Free. Please use the Utah Street Entrance to reach the Astronomy Campus.

Wednesday, July 7, 11:00
Family Program: “Warren House”
Visit a log home built in the 1970s. Explore a “keeping room”, a parlor, and a summer kitchen.  About an hour. Meet at the Warren House in The Historical Village at The Crossroads. Free.

Thursday, July 8, 11:00
Family Program: Birds and Wildflowers
Join the summer educator to look and listen for summer birds and discover what is blooming in the meadow. Free. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.  

Friday, July 9, 6:00
Public Information Meeting: Beech Bark Disease
Representatives of the Wisconsin DNR will present a program about this new threat to Door County Forests. Following a program about the disease, information on identfication and management will be followed by a question and answer session.  Free. Lecture hall of the Collins Learning Center.  

Sunday, July 11, 1:30-3:30 Tours of The Historical Village and Blacksmithing Demonstration In addition to offering free tours of The Historical Village, the Door County Historical Society will open the Blacksmith Shop. Several volunteer blacksmiths will be demonstrating their skill, fashioning useful items at the forge. Visitors are encouraged to watch the process, and if they’d like, buy very items they have seen being made. Free. 

Monday, July 12, 11:00
Family Program:A School Day in 1900
Enjoy lessons in a country crossroads school where reading, writing and arthmetic, history, science and music were taught in one room. Free. Meet at the Vignes School in The Historical Village at The Crossroads.

Tuesday, July 13, 11:00
Family Program: “Butterflies”
Hike to find the butterflies of summer and search for their eggs and caterpillars on the plants they love to eat. Free. Meet at the Collins Learnign Center.

Wednesday, July 14, 11:00
Family Program: “Country Store and Garden”
Visit the Green General Store to learn of the storekeeper and his wife. What’s for sale in 1900? And what’s growing in the garden? Free Meet at the Green General Store in The Historical Village at The Crossroads.

Thursday July 15, 1:15
DCIST Contractor Meet and Greet
The Door County Invasive Species Team (DCIST) will host various contractors at the July meeting to give landowners the opportunity to learn about what local businesses can provide for noxious weed control. Put faces to the names of certified contractors available for aquatic and terrestrial invasive species removal.  Snacks are provided! Free. Meet in the lecture hall of the Collins Learning Center.

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