Wisconsin's Northwoods

Wisconsin's Northwoods fact file

Description
Range
Biodiversity
Threats
Conservation
Find out more
Glossary
References

Description

Wisconsin’s Northwoods are part of a vast expanse of temperate, forested wilderness, which once encompassed huge swathes of Europe, Russia, Alaska, Canada and the northern United States ⁽¹⁾.

Today, much of the original temperate forest has been cleared ⁽²⁾, and in Wisconsin only around one percent remains ⁽³⁾. Nonetheless, Wisconsin’s Northwoods still encompass an area of approximately 75,000 square kilometres ⁽²⁾, forming a sprawling patchwork of forests, woods, lakes, wetlands and bogs ⁽⁴⁾.

Wisconsin’s Northwoods are made up of a mosaic of different habitats, ranging from boreal forest, mixed forest and northern hardwood forest, to swamps, lowland coniferous forest, wetlands and grassland ⁽²⁾ ⁽⁵⁾ ⁽⁶⁾.

This hugely diverse and stunningly beautiful area of Wisconsin is also known for its ‘kettle lakes’, which were formed after the ice age when ice from glaciers melted and depressions, called kettles, were filled. The Northern Highlands region of Wisconsin is known for having one of the highest concentrations of kettle lakes in the world ⁽⁵⁾, and the Northwoods landscape is dotted with thousands of these glacially-born lakes ⁽⁷⁾.

A staggering variety of plants and animals make their home in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, from the elusive American marten (Martes americana) to the charismatic grey wolf (Canis lupis) ⁽²⁾ ⁽⁵⁾. The emotive howl of the wolf has become more common in Wisconsin’s Northwoods in recent years, the species having successfully recolonised the region after it was hunted nearly to extinction in North America during the early 1900s ⁽²⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾ ⁽⁷⁾.

Wisconsin’s Northwoods are also vitally important to a great many migratory songbirds which breed across the region, reinforcing this spectacular expanse of forest as an area of global significance ⁽²⁾.

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Range

Wisconsin’s Northwoods blanket much of the northern part of the state, including the upland areas of the Northern Highlands, stretching to the edges of Lake Superior ⁽⁵⁾, the largest body of freshwater in the world ⁽⁷⁾.

Large parts of the Northwoods fall into what is known as the ‘Laurentian Mixed Forest Province’, an ecoregion forming a band of forest traversing Wisconsin, northern Minnesota, Michigan, southern Ontario and the less mountainous areas of New England ⁽⁶⁾.

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Biodiversity

Plants

Around 30 species of tree are native to Wisconsin ⁽²⁾. Generally, Wisconsin’s Northwoods are dominated by species such as sugar maple (Acer saccharum), American beech (Fagus grandifolia), red maple (Acer rubrum), basswood (Tilia americana), white ash (Fraxinus americana), red oak (Quercus rubra), quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) ⁽²⁾. The majestic white pine (Pinus strobus) was once widespread throughout northern parts of the state, but now only a few scattered pockets of this grand species remain ⁽⁷⁾.

Hundreds of species of mosses, lichens, liverworts, ferns, grasses and sedges, orchids, wildflowers and shrubs are also found in the Northwoods ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁸⁾.

Mammals

Wisconsin is home to around 72 mammals ⁽⁵⁾. The Northwoods provide extensive habitat for a wide variety of these species, ranging from the tiny woodland jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis), to large, distinctive species such as the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), the puma (Puma concolor), the American black bear (Ursus americanus) and the moose (Alces americanus) ⁽²⁾ ⁽⁵⁾.

As well as terrestrial mammals, a large number of bat species are found in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Many of these bats are threatened or of conservation concern, including species such as the silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), the eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) and the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) ⁽⁵⁾.

Birds

Wisconsin’s Northwoods are home to a variety of birds, and the area is considered to be a centre of abundance for many flycatchers, thrushes and warblers, as well as numerous Neotropical migratory songbirds ⁽⁹⁾.

The Northwoods provide vital habitat for several bird species which are found nowhere else in Wisconsin, including the spruce grouse (Dendragapus canadensis), the great grey owl (Strix nebulosa), the black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), the boreal chickadee (Parus hudsonicus), Wilson’s warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) and Nelson’s sharp-tailed sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) ⁽¹⁰⁾.

A number of birds found in the Northwoods are also considered ‘Threatened’ or ‘Endangered’ by the state of Wisconsin, such as the trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator), the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), the common tern (Sterna hirundo), the barn owl (Tyto alba), the loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) and Henslow’s sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) ⁽¹⁰⁾. The cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulean) and the greater prairie chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) are also considered to be globally threatened ⁽¹⁰⁾ ⁽¹¹⁾.

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is probably Wisconsin’s most familiar game bird, and a common sight in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Since its reintroduction to the state in 1976, this species’ population has increased dramatically, making it one of Wisconsin’s wildlife management success stories ⁽⁵⁾.

Reptiles and amphibians

There are 56 native reptile and amphibian species in Wisconsin, of which the mink frog (Lithobates septentrionalis) is found only in the Northwoods ⁽⁵⁾.

The Northwoods also provide a stronghold for two globally endangered freshwater turtles: the wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) and Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) ⁽⁵⁾ ⁽¹¹⁾.

Invertebrates

As with all forests, the Northwoods is inhabited by countless invertebrates, some of which are exceedingly rare, such as the cuckoo bee (Epeoloides pilosula). Around 530 invertebrate species have been identified as ‘Species of Greatest Conservation Need’ throughout the state of Wisconsin, many of which are found in the Northwoods ⁽⁵⁾.

Wisconsin’s Northwoods provide critical habitat for endangered butterflies such as the swamp metalmark (Calephelis mutica) and the northern blue butterfly (Lycaeides idas), while the numerous streams, lakes and rivers that criss-cross the region are home to freshwater molluscs such as the purple wartyback (Cyclonaias tuberculata), the cherrystone drop (Hendersonia occulta) and the slippershell mussel (Alasmidonta viridis) ⁽⁵⁾.

Fish

With its immense network of waterways, the Northwoods has an abundance of aquatic life, including fish such as the greater redhorse (Moxostoma valenciennesi) and pugnose shiner (Notropis anogenus), both of which are threatened in Wisconsin ⁽⁵⁾.

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Threats

Although Wisconsin’s Northwoods currently carpet much of the northern portion of the state and appear both healthy and well managed, the region unfortunately still faces a number of substantial threats ⁽⁴⁾.

Historically, logging has been the dominant land use in the area, and the U.S. timber industry continues to shape the future of this immense forest ecosystem ⁽⁴⁾. As well as cutting down acres of valuable trees, logging impacts the Northwoods in other ways; for example, through soil compaction by heavy equipment ⁽²⁾, and the creation of logging roads, which fragment habitats and provide routes in for invasive species ⁽⁴⁾.

Invasive species are a growing problem in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, and non-native plants in particular continue to increase and spread, sometimes outcompeting and replacing native species ⁽²⁾. Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa) and orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca) are just two of the invasive species now seen frequently along trails and logging roads ⁽⁴⁾.

Excessive grazing, particularly by herbivores such as the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), affects some areas of the Northwoods, and impacts on the ability of certain plants to reproduce and regenerate. Similarly, disruption to natural fire cycles as a result of fire suppression has drastically altered the structure of plant communities in the Northwoods, leading to some plants becoming more dominant while others become rarer ⁽²⁾.

Climate change is having an ever-increasing effect on the Northwoods ecosystem. In particular, changes to the local environment may affect the ability of plants and animals to adapt, recolonise and recover after disturbances, while warmer winters are contributing to the better over-winter survival of herbivores, invasive species and pest species, as well as favouring the colonisation of new pests and pathogens ⁽²⁾ ⁽⁴⁾. For example, white-pine blister rust has decimated the Northwoods’ white pine populations, while gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) outbreaks and jack pine budworm (Choristoneura pinus) are becoming increasingly problematic ⁽²⁾ ⁽⁴⁾. Climate change could also mean that the more oak-dominated forests of the south may slowly creep northwards as the climate becomes more suitable for them, displacing the established forest communities of the Northwoods ⁽²⁾.

Tourism and recreation have become more popular in the Northwoods, and the resulting development, population growth and conflicting land uses may become more of a threat to this beautiful region in future ⁽²⁾.

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Conservation

Large parts of Wisconsin’s Northwoods are encompassed by national parks, state forests or natural areas ⁽⁵⁾, such as the extensive Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, which covers over 6,000 square kilometres of northern Wisconsin ⁽¹²⁾. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) also manages the State National Areas Program, which manages over 400 parks, forests, trails and recreation areas across Wisconsin, including the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, situated in the Northwoods ⁽⁸⁾.

A key aim of national and state forests, parks and natural areas is to protect biodiversity and natural communities, making them a haven for wildlife. In Wisconsin, such areas of wilderness often provide the last refuge for many rare plants and animals. More than 90 percent of plants and 75 percent of animals on Wisconsin’s list of endangered and threatened species are given some form of protection by these areas, which are also vital for scientific research and environmental education ⁽⁸⁾.

Wisconsin’s Northwoods are hugely important to both humans and wildlife, and protecting and maintaining this beautiful and diverse region is essential if the great Northwoods are to flourish. The varied habitats of the Northwoods, from forests to wetlands, must be properly managed. Conservation measures such as prescribed burning of the forest, habitat restoration projects, invasive species control, and careful management of deer populations and their impact on sensitive plant species, are therefore essential to ensure that the delicate balance of Wisconsin’s Northwoods is maintained ⁽²⁾.

Many species found in Wisconsin’s Northwoods are included in Wisconsin's Wildlife Action Plan, which identifies the native Wisconsin species that are of greatest conservation need. This detailed and comprehensive plan outlines the priority conservation actions needed to protect Wisconsin’s wonderfully varied species and their habitats ⁽⁵⁾.

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Find out more

Find out more about Wisconsin’s Northwoods:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: dnr.wi.gov
Cable Natural History Museum: www.cablemuseum.org

Find out more about the conservation of Wisconsin’s threatened and endangered species:

Wisconsin's Wildlife Action Plan:
dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/wwap/Plan/index.htm

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Glossary

Boreal forest: the sub-Arctic forest of the high northern latitudes that surrounds the North Pole and is mainly composed of coniferous trees.
Deciduous: a plant that sheds its leaves at the end of the growing season.
Ecoregion: also called an ecological region; a geographical area defined by a distinctive range of ecological factors, such as its climate, soil type, water systems, and plant and animal communities.
Herbivore: an animal that consumes only vegetable matter.
Invertebrates: animals with no backbone, such as insects, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, spiders, cnidarians (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones), echinoderms, and others.
Lichen: a composite organism made up of a fungus in a co-operative partnership with an alga. Owing to this partnership, lichens can thrive in harsh environments such as mountaintops and polar regions. Characteristically forms a crustlike or branching growth on rocks or tree trunks.
Molluscs: a diverse group of invertebrates, mainly marine, that have one or all of the following: a horny, toothed ribbon in the mouth (the radula), a shell covering the upper surface of the body, and a mantle or mantle cavity with a type of gill. Includes snails, slugs, shellfish, octopuses and squid.
Temperate: referring to the geographical region that lies between the polar and tropical regions, characterised by a moderate climate with distinct seasons.

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References

Zwinger, S. (1995) Trouble in the boreal forests. Backpacker, September 1995: 62.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (2011) Northern forest communities. In: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin.
http://dnr.wi.gov/landscapes/pdfs/Nforests.pdf
Ostergren, R.C. and Vale, T.R. (1997) Wisconsin Land and Life. University of Wisconsin Press, Wisconsin.
Waller, D. and Rooney, T. (2008) The Vanishing Present: Wisconsin's Changing Lands, Waters, and Wildlife. University of Chicago Press, Illinois.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (August, 2011)
http://dnr.wi.gov/
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Laurentian Mixed Forest Province (August, 2011)
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecs/212/index.html
Hintz, M. (1997) Hiking Wisconsin. Human Kinetics Publishers, Illinois.
Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program (August, 2011)
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/sna/info.htm
Howe, R.W., Neimi, G. and Probst, J.R. (1996). Management of western Great Lakes forests for the conservation of Neotropical migratory birds. In: Thompson, F.R. (Ed.) Management of Midwestern Landscapes for the Conservation of Neotropical Migratory Birds. General Technical Report, Northwest Forest Experiment Station, Colombia, Montana.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (2008) The Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail (GWBNT) Checklist. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin.
IUCN Red List (August, 2011)
http://www.iucnredlist.org
USDA Forest Service - Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (August, 2011)
http://www.fs.usda.gov

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Image credit

Autumnal trees at Northwoods Fall Bay, Wisconsin

Barbara Lundberg
Tel: 715-209-4791
http://www.barblundbergphotography.com

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