Northern Wisconsin’s forests are predominantly mixed deciduous-coniferous forests. The forest communities represented in the North Pikes Creek watershed are similar to much of northern Wisconsin, and include aspen/birch, lowland conifer, and lowland hardwood forest types. The Friends of the North Pikes Creek Wetlands Conservation Area forest cover is diverse, and contains all these forest communities, as well as areas of shrubby habitat surrounding the creek and marshland.

Mixed swamp hardwoods. This wetland stand was last logged 80+ years ago. The swamp hardwood stand is dominated by black ash, with red maple, red oak, paper birch, quaking aspen, and yellow birch interspersed. On higher ground within this stand, there are “islands” of boreal forest with an incredible diversity of conifers, dominated by white cedar, white spruce, and balsam fir, mixed with some paper birch, white spruce, balsam fir and white pine. These drier “islands” are used as game trails, and the Friends installed a Snapshot Wisconsin camera along one of these trails. This habitat is suitable for such species as the northern flying squirrel, snowshoe hare, American marten, and boreal breeding birds, such as Cape May and Blackburnian warbler.

Aspen. The aspen stands in the Conservation Area were regenerated nearly 40 years ago. Although dominated by quaking aspen and red maple, these stands are interspersed with other species, including paper birch and balsam poplar. This habitat provides homes for numerous rare species, including Swainson’s thrush, northern goshawk, and northern long-eared bats.

Shrub Thickets. These communities of tall shrubs and water-stunted trees – technically a wetland habitat type –  occur in riparian areas, which are the transition zone between land and water along streams, and open water wetlands.  These areas are among the most important parts of forest ecosystems and have high plant diversity, both horizontally and vertically from the water’s edge, which contributes to the high diversity of animals that live in these areas. Shrub thickets provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including golden-winged warbler, American bittern, and several species of state threatened bats.

Lack of disturbance in the Conservation Area has resulted in an understory dominated by a large diversity of native plants. The property’s structurally diverse, ecologically complex habitats provide homes for hundreds of animal species, including dozens of rare, threatened, and endangered species.

Forests are dynamic and every forest is in a continuous state of change. Forests have historically been altered in structure and composition by natural disturbances, such as large-scale forest fires, windstorms, insect infestations, pathogens, and animal disturbances. When settlers arrived in Wisconsin, they manipulated their environment by clearing land for farming, home sites, cities, and highways, engaged in fire suppression, and introduced invasive species. These recent disturbances have, in some cases, led to forest fragmentation, loss of wildlife habitat, and interruption of traditional wildlife corridors.

The Friends’ Conservation Area lies at the head of a 6-mile long wildlife corridor that starts on the Friends’ property, continues through the 1,400-acre WDNR-owned South Shore Lake Superior Fish and Wildlife Area, and ends at Chequamegon Bay. This extensive, intact, protected corridor through the forested landscape, is well-used by a large variety wildlife, particularly migratory birds. The Friends are working collaboratively with the WDNR to manage this traditional wildlife corridor to preserve its values in the long-term.

A properly managed forest can provide benefits for both wildlife and people. The Friends of the North Pikes Creek Wetlands recently completed a scientific forestry management plan for their Conservation Area property. It is essential to evaluate a forest in its current state, and survey the wildlife species utilizing the habitat, to establish a baseline. The completed plan identifies scientific best management practices to optimize forest health and wildlife habitat in a changing climate, and addresses possible insect infestation. Maintaining and enhancing forest habitat for the species of greatest conservation need currently using the site is a core objective when considering future management options. The protection, and informed scientific management of the property, will ensure the maintenance of a healthy mosaic of upland and wetland habitats that support a diversity of wildlife into the future. The Friends are engaging in management activities that will protect this valuable forested wetland resource for the benefit of people and wildlife long-term.