Bear Creek Hemlocks

Bear Creek Hemlocks encompasses a range of forest types, topography, and moisture regimes. The hemlock forest and associated sedge-blue-joint grass meadows, alder thickets, and hardwood swamps separate an area of recessional moraine on the west from the ground moraine to the east. A soft water drainage stream, Bear Creek is part of the Yellow River watershed and a two-mile stretch meanders through the area in a southerly direction, draining both ash and spruce swamps. Of primary importance at this site are two old-growth stands of hemlock-dominated forest near Bear Creek. Structurally, both stands contain several well-developed old growth attributes, including the presence of very large diameter (30-41") super-canopy white pine.

The first stand, which borders an extensive wet meadow/alder bottoms on Bear Creek, has a relatively simple species composition typical of a lowland (TMC) type of hemlock forest found throughout the ground moraine. However, the second stand, which is adjacent to a small ice-walled lake plain associated with an area of the recessional moraine, has an unusually rich species composition. Super canopy white pine, up to 41 inches in diameter, tower over a mixed forest of hemlock, yellow birch, sugar maple, white ash, and basswood. Snags, coarse woody debris, and tip-up mounds are common. Ground flora vegetation is especially noteworthy, with a high abundance of most of the rich site indicators in addition to those species more typical of upland hemlock-hardwood forests.

Species include Virginia water-leaf, bloodroot, cut-leaved toothwort, and woodland phlox. Spring ephemerals are common. This occurrence grades down into an equally diverse mixed black ash-white cedar swamp, which has high numbers of several relatively uncommon orchid species including moccasin flower, and lesser purple fringed orchid. Associated tree species include red maple, yellow birch, and balsam fir. The eastern half of the site is ground moraine supporting a hemlock-hardwood forest on the level to gently rolling topography. Bordering the lowlands along Bear Creek is a high-quality hemlock-dominated stand with numerous surface boulders and a developing old-growth structure. Super-canopy white pine is frequent. Much of the ground moraine is level and damp.

Hemlock and yellow birch are common with associated sugar maple, and red maple in lower areas. Groundlayer species include three-leaved goldthread, bunchberry, mountain wood sorrel, and Canada mayflower. Hazel brush is common in places. Large, older snags and trees within the uplands provide nesting sites for pileated woodpeckers and flying squirrels. Bear Creek Hemlocks is owned by the U.S. Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007. This site is also recognized by the Forest Service as an established Research Natural Area.