Pine trees and Lake Bemidji State Park go hand in hand. They are iconic of the Northwoods feel that so many Minnesotans just love. Keeping these trees strong and healthy requires attention and care; occasionally, the park staff plant pine saplings to help regeneration. The biggest challenge for these young trees’ survival is the voracious appetite of the local deer, who see the tender young shoots as an irresistible delicacy. Sometimes, the only way to prevent deer from eating a whole generation of new pines is to install a fence.
Parks & Trails Council is delighted to award the Friends of Lake Bemidji a $2,500 grant from our Habitat Grant Program. This grant will be used to install a temporary fence around an area of newly planted pine trees, a project that is planned for this fall. The project’s success will be greatly enhanced by the volunteer labor provided by members of the Friends Group and a local Boy Scout troop, demonstrating the power of community involvement in conservation efforts.
The fencing, a crucial step in protecting the future of Lake Bemidji’s pine trees, will be located along the park’s bog walk trail. It will likely remain in place for a few years until the saplings grow large enough to withstand the deer browsing. The first few years of growth are the most critical because the deer can chew down the top terminal shoot at that point, leaving the tree stunted or dead.
