Hawley Forest & Land Management LLC

11/04/2026

07/12/2026

The Eastern Whip-poor-will and Red-headed Woodpecker are more than iconic birds of northern Michigan. They’re indicators of healthy, diverse forests.

Both species have experienced long-term population declines as open woodlands, oak savannas, and young forest habitats have become less common. Protecting and restoring these habitats on private lands helps support not only these birds, but countless other plants and wildlife that share the same ecosystems.

While working in the Hubbard Lake area, I have had the pleasure of happening across both.

Conserving and enhancing habitat for these species on private lands means conserving the health and resilience of Michigan’s forests for generations to come.

06/07/2026

It's that time of year again! Have you seen any of these turtles crossing roads or digging nests on your property? If so, please consider submitting your observations to the Michigan Natural Features Inventory Rare Species Form to help inform turtle conservation efforts across the state!

Click here to learn about the Rare Species Form:
https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/report

Click here to learn more about MNFI, the Natural Heritage Database, and the work that we do:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/10cff7ddf03240c395fbb384a0ab76e9

06/05/2026

Alert 🚨 Invasive Watch 👀

On a short walk this afternoon on my property, I happened upon Garlic Mustard. This herbaceous w**d is rare in our region but has made a real problem for forest health in southern MI. The plants sprout early in the spring and grow densely in the forest understory. They have explosive seed pods that can spread over 7,000 seeds up to 10 feet from each plant.

Keep your eyes open for these plants along trails over the next couple weeks. If you find it, take a second to pull the individuals with flowers so their seeds don’t spread.

05/20/2026

Spring leaf out is the perfect time to spot invasive shrubs. Species like autumn olive leaf out early and quickly outcompete native plants such as serviceberry (pictured) one of the best natural forage and habitat species for wildlife.

I’ve seen properties where dense autumn olive completely suppressed native regeneration. After selective treatment, serviceberry, oak, and other native species began reclaiming the understory within just a few growing seasons.

Selective invasive shrub treatment helps promote quality forage, healthier habitat, and long-term native forest regeneration.

If your woods have been or are becoming inundated with invasive shrubs, now is the time to address them while they stand out during spring leaf out.

05/15/2026

Have a professional protect the positive outcomes for you and your property.

05/03/2026

First planting of the year is officially in the books 🌱

This site has quite the story! After a pine dominant harvest, a wildfire swept through and left a portion of the property scorched and struggling to recover. But instead of letting it sit, we’re putting it back to work.

We planted red pine to jumpstart regeneration, stabilize the soil, and rebuild a healthy, productive forest. It’s a long-term play. One that creates future timber value while restoring wildlife habitat and ecosystem health.

Moments like this are where good forestry makes a real difference. Not just clearing land, but setting it up to thrive for decades.

If you’ve got acreage that needs a reset, whether it’s post-harvest, storm damage, or just underperforming ground, there are smart ways to turn it around.

Send me a message if you want to walk your property and see what’s possible.

04/30/2026

Nothing like walking through the woods and finding giant cobwebs to keep your heart rate up.

Good news: not spiders! Just eastern tent caterpillars throwing a group dinner party.

They love cherry and apple trees, can eat a lot in a hurry, but they’re native and trees usually bounce right back. They are NOT gypsy/spongy moths and their damage is common place in our woods.

Caught these guys in action on a pin cherry during a red pine replant. Rude house guests, but harmless overall.

04/22/2026

04/21/2026

Morel season: where grown adults wander the woods hunched over like they're searching for lost car keys 🍄 🍄‍🟫
Find one... and suddenly you're acting like a wildlife tracker on a mission.
The forest didn't change-you just unlocked "morel vision."

Haven’t had a sighting so far this year. Anyone found so far this spring?