Gwaii Haanas Forest Plants
mini forest
Tansy’s recent stint on Haida Gwaii, involved a bit of bushwhacking, not just shoreline activities…Tansy and her companions were happy to see the forest growing back in some areas where the deer population has been reduced. Deer were extirpated 12,000 years ago by the effects of climate change, but were re-introduced in the 1920’s. The ecosystem was then destabilised by the presence of deer with no natural predators, eating all the little plants. Now rebalancing attempts are being made.
little tree
There are lovely little trees…
little salal
…and other little plants growing back in the forest.
Woodpecker climb
Some of the older trees are now riddled with woodpecker holes, which are perfect for Hitty tree-climbing.
Higher
Tansy got pretty high, but the photographer didn’t let her get too far, before retrieving her and tucking her back in the carrying case.
fungus
This older tree had a giant orange fungus growing out of it.
chicken of the woods
This is called Chicken of the woods, but it isn’t actually edible.
lichen
Fallen logs have other mosses and lichens growing on them.
Succulent
Back at the beach, Tansy found some nice fat succulents,
kelp
And loads of kelp of course.
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Quimper Hittys 
how lovely to walk along with Tansy and have a little botany lesson. what wonderful photos! Love the ones of her climbing the tree.
She’s a little adventurous girl, and likes the view from up high!
also, very interesting about the deer.
It is interesting isn’t it.
Careful, Tansy! As tempting as that climbing tree appears, a wooden doll might present another opportunity for that woodpecker!
Fortunately Tansy didn’t tempt the woodpeckers as she isn’t rotten, or filled with grubs, (though she was quite grubby at the end of the summer)!
Deer are lovely creatures, but when they are introduced into an ecosystem that evolved without them, the consequences are grim. Sorry that they had to be taken back out of the area, but it’s so good to see the ecosystem recovering.
I have been to other places where introduced species have affected the landscape, like sheep in Iceland, or Cattle in Arizona. When the alien species are excluded, the complexity of the ecosystem increases and it becomes a completely different place!