They’re beautiful, they aid the environment, and they’re under attack.
But we’re doing our part to help, and so can you.
About Hemlock Wooly Adelgid
The gargantuan Eastern hemlock tree is being eliminated by a tiny foe– the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA). These little caterpillars are killing off the hemlocks, one of the largest and most important plants to biodiversity in the region.
Half of the hemlocks in the eastern United States are plagued with the insect, and 90 percent of the hemlocks in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia are already gone.
What We’re Doing to Preserve Hemlocks
To keep the hemlocks from disappearing from the New River Gorge, Adventures on the Gorge has designated its property as a Hemlock Preservation Site and set up a long-term plan to treat the trees and research new solutions.
The TreeTops Canopy Tour staff leads the process, surveying hemlocks taller than six feet and marking them for treatment. TreeTops guests also play a role in the survival of the hemlock: $1 from every participant’s fee goes toward the project, and Adventures on the Gorge matches those funds dollar for dollar, doubling the funding to save the trees.
Preserving the hemlock is important because their large, dense size creates a unique habitat that supports diverse wildlife. Living more than 800 years and towering more than 175 feet, hemlocks shelter more than 90 species of birds. Streams surrounded by hemlocks are more likely to harbor a more diverse population of aquatic animals.
But these native animals are also in danger because of the destruction of their home, shelter and protection by the HWA, an invasive species from Asia that was accidentally brought to the United States in the 1950s.
The wooly, white HWA sucks sap from the young twigs on the hemlock, causing the needles to dry out and drop. The process can kill the hemlock in only a few years.
Lacking natural enemies in North America, the HWA has spread throughout the eastern United States via wind, birds, mammals, human activities and the transport of infected nursery stock.
The best way to treat the hemlocks is by injecting insecticide at the base of the trees, or injecting into the trunk of the tree for hemlocks along the water banks. The treatments can last three or more years.
Research to find non-chemical solutions is underway. Predatory beetles are one option being considered. In partnership with the USFS and Virginia Tech Entomology Department, plans are underway for Adventures on the Gorge to serve as a research site for predator beetle release research.
To learn more about the Hemlcok Wooly Adelgid problem facing the hemlocks, you can visit the U.S. Forest Service Resource Site. Or, become part of the solution and take a TreeTops Canopy Tour for a fun, first-hand informational session.
By Jay Young
