History of the Transition Forests

October 27th, 2008 | Article by Giovanni Di Nardi | Environment, Family, Pets and Animals, Recreation and Leisure |

Article about: forests, Hiking trips, Nature, Outdoors, Transition Forest

The transition forest is the area where two very different forest types overlap. The snowy needleleaf forests start in northern Canada and work their way down to their southern limits in the United States. The broadleaf forests of the eastern United States extend as far north as they can and intersect with the needleleaf forests thus the term, “Transition Forest.”

This unique relationship also has an impact on the various animals that inhabit this area. There is a distinct variety of wildlife, flowers, plants and insects that live there. For example, only in this transition forest, could snowshoe hares from the north, run alongside eastern cottontail rabbits from the south. Plant species vary accordingly in some areas and you can find spruce-fir forests among the northern peaks, but below you can also find forests of oak and hickory trees.

The famous sugar maple tree is probably the most dominant tree, occupying more than half of the transition forest. There are also yellow birch, eastern hemlock, and American beech trees, that cover large portions of the forest. The transition forest covers a huge area and what you see depends on where you are within the forest.

Some of the common plants available are black cherry, northern red oak, elderberry and mountain laurel. You can also find trilliums, white baneberry, and Canada mayflower in abundance there. The combination of of densely populated evergreens and hemlocks provide feeding and nesting sites, as well as shelter for many animals of the forest.

The wildlife inhabiting the area can be just as varied as the plant life. There are deer mice, gray squirrels, northern and southern flying squirrels, gray fox, wood frogs, salamanders, porcupines, grouse and several species of hawks.

Another important part of the transition forest is the forest floor itself. The forest floor here remains moist, due to the shade and fallen leaves of the larger trees. This is important and beneficial to species like the lungless salamanders, (which must keep their skin moist in order to breathe) and other reptiles and rodents. Fallen trees and hollow logs make favorable homes for cavity dwelling animals and birds.

If you’re like me, and love to hike and explore, you may want to plan a visit to this beautiful, vast, area. There is certainly a treasure trove of places and sights to see that you will never forget. You may want to plan your trip in the autumn of the year…the view is breathtaking!