The All-Importaint Hemlock

The All-Importaint Hemlock. . , Many of the large evergreen trees in the gorges of Mohican State Park and Mohican Memorial State Forest are eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), which occurs throughout much of the eastern United States and Canada, although in Ohio they mainly grow naturally in the eastern half of the state., In the cool gorges of Mohican, eastern hemlocks flourish as a "foundation species," shaping an environment that profoundly influences other coexisting species. The dense shade under a hemlock forest moderates air and stream temperatures and slowly decomposing hemlock needles and wood create a thick organic layer on the forest floor. Eastern hemlock forests provide critical breeding and foraging habitat for many wildlife species, some of which are rare or threatened., Hemlocks have been known to live in excess of 800 years under ideal conditions, and 300 to 400-year-old stands of hemlock are not uncommon. While some old-growth examples can still be found, most of the existing hemlock trees here are much younger because of heavy timber harvesting after European settlement., However, the survival of these trees is currently under threat from the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), a small, invasive, sap-sucking insect which has already caused widespread hemlock decline and mortality in the eastern United States. The Ohio Division of Forestry takes active measures to manage HWA infestations statewide through an integrated pest management program to slow its spread and protect high-priority hemlock forests. For more information, visit ohiodnr.gov/hwa., Other trees to look for during your hike include northern red oak, white oak, eastern white pine, sycamore, yellow-poplar, and sugar maple., The River Sustains Us , The Mohican and Clear Fork Rivers flow through forested valleys, boasting exceptionally clean waters. Designated as a State Scenic River in 2006, the Mohican River, along with the lower portion of Clear Fork, offers opportunities for canoeing, creek exploring, and fishing., Mohican State Park's terrain is composed of sandstone, shale, and conglomerate, formed 350 million years ago when this land laid south of the equator beneath a shallow sea. Along the riverbanks downstream from the covered bridge, visitors can discover fossilized remains of ancient sea life, such as gastropods, brachiopods, and trilobites.