Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) has been present in the Catskills since the 1980s, threatening a tree that is both iconic in Catskill forests, and is an essential part of the history and habitats of the region. From supporting the local economy, to providing the environmental conditions that support brook trout populations, hemlock trees are a key element of the Catskill flora. In fact, these trees, and the pest that infests them, was the subject of the most recent Kaatscast podcast, a series which celebrates all things Catskills. Joined by forest historian Michael Kudish and NYSHI’s own Mark Whitmore, the Kaatscast team shares an enlightening episode on Catskill forests past to future, and a look at HWA in the region.

Hemlock trees have been in the Catskills since the end of the last ice age, but they were the star of the show during the 19^th century, when the Catskill region was the center of the leather tanning industry. Hemlock bark, with its acidic, tannic properties, as Mike Kudish describes, is ideal for the leather making process. Hemlock resources supported the largest tanneries in the area, like Edwards and Hunter’s New York Tannery and the Pratt Tannery in Prattsville. Mike Kudish shares more about this history, and the impacts which we can still see on the landscape today.

Forest entomologist and NYSHI team leader Mark Whitmore takes over for the second half of this Kaatscast podcast to talk about HWA, and how this invasive pest has changed, and continues to change, the Catskill forest. Mark studies HWA, and researches the use of biological control for managing HWA in New York. Mark reports that HWA is spreading “not rapidly, but steadily,” in New York, enough to have infested millions of Catskill trees in the past two to three decades. With two generations per year and no native predators, coupled with milder winters, Mark expects that HWA populations will continue to spread—and maybe faster than we have seen in the past. However, biocontrol research is ongoing, and there are several reasons we are optimistic about those efforts.

To hear more, check out the Kaatscast podcast episode here: