The 2,184 sq. Most prominently, thick, hardy, cottonwoods line the banks of the Bighorn River. This whole region is reportedly among the most fished in Montana, and not only trout but also walleye and bass are to be found in the waters. Our federal tax ID is 52-1786332. Visit the National Forest Store to see what maps are available for this Forest and others you may want to visit. This native insect has always been present in the Bighorns, but has only periodically reached population levels that kill large areas of forest. Snowshoe past Copeland Falls and Calypso Cascades, which will be frozen into crystalline ice flows and sparkling like jewels among the spruce trees and drifts of snow. The elevations vary from 3,640 to over 8,000 feet. var year=mydate.getYear() Official websites use .gov A .gov Clad in a thick, scaly armor, the bark of mature ponderosa pines is ideally suited to withstand the recurrent ground fires that swept through the area and cleared the understory to create an open, widely scattered, pine forest. <>>> Rolling Slope, Landscaped, Meadow . Thin, low-stemmed plants are sprouting from the muddy deposits on the edges of the streams. The Triassic Chugwater Formation is the most recognizable geological unit in the basin. A five-foot-long predatory eurypterid is trolling the shallows in search of its next meal. Copyright 2016, Denver Museum of Nature and Science. District Office. website belongs to an official government organization in the 1. on official, secure websites. if (seconds<=9) What makes this place so amazing is that it has layers of rock from almost every single geologic time period. miles of scenic mountain driving. Shrubland in this climatic zone gives way to limber and ponderosa pines. Some of the most famous battles between the Native American Indians and the US military were waged at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains or in close proximity. Ecological Monographs If you can see the rocks, you can find the fossils in the rocks. The shallow and still waters here make it easy for Kayakers to glide off for a spot of recreation. ( Located in north-central Wyoming, the Bighorn Mountains are a sister range of the Rocky Mountains. scenic view of river amidst trees against sky,big horn county,wyoming,united states,usa - big horn mountains wyoming stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. So in all the Big Horn Mountainstaking into consideration the Bighorn National Forestare a massively accommodating area when it comes to outdoor recreational opportunities. The Medicine Wheel No chance of getting bored in Montana if you like the outdoors and you dont mind putting on your boots. Douglas-fir/Ponderosa Pine Forests are found primarily on the north facing slopes in Bighorn Canyon from Bull Elk Basin northward and in the higher elevations of the park. A Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep looks at his surroundings while snacking on the . Buffalo, Wyoming 82834 Passage (US 14A) rises sharply from the Bighorn Basin near the city of Lovell and travels portions of the Rocky Mountains (Hayward 1945, Daubenmire 1946, 1952, Billings 1951, Oosting and Reed 1952, Marr 1961, Langenheim 1962, Patten 1963, Whittaker and Niering 1965). This campground charges $15.00 per night and also has a seasonal amphitheater. <> Located in north-central Wyoming, the Big Horn Mountains are a sister range of the Rocky Mountains. In fact, the Bighorn Basin may be the best place on Earth to tell the story of our planet. Bear sightings occur from spring through fall, in the Black Canyon campground and in the Trail Creek campground at Barry's Landing. (406) 666-9961 is the North District in Fort Smith, MT. Wiley has published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace. Hickory tussock moth caterpillars grow around 1.77 inches long, with fuzzy white hairs covering their bodies. Do you want to decorate your home? Goshawks and gray jays live in the timbered areas year-round. In this world of rapid scientific advancement and never-ending environmental change, there needs to be room for the thoughtful integration of scientific ideas, data, and concepts that feeds the mind and guides the development of the maturing science of ecology. 4 0 obj Because of its high clay content, the formation does not make prominent outcrops, and it is often covered by geological debris or vegetation. 2013 Eastside 2nd Street Dominant Habitat 25 miles through high alpine meadows to Burgess Junction, where it intersects with the Crooked Creek Campground has a very basic setup that doesnt include electricity. Visit the Bighorn National Forest and enjoy the multiple reservoirs, 32 campgrounds, 3 scenic byways, 14 picnic areas, 7 lodges, miles and miles of streams, 189,000 acres of Wilderness, 1,500 miles of trails, and much more that provide a forest experience unique to the Big Horns. Most of the rainfall comes during March, April, and May; precipitation is less than 30 mm per month during summer. } Plant roots and dead plant debris mixed in with weathered rock to form soils that started to live and breathe like the ones we have today. water, livestock forage, and minerals. . The rusting process in the sediments often destroys the remains of plants and animals that would otherwise become fossilized, so very few fossils have been discovered in the Chugwater over the years. The vision for Ecological Monographs is that it should be the place for publishing integrative, synthetic papers that elaborate new directions for the field of ecology. %PDF-1.5 Our core businesses produce scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising; professional books, subscription products, certification and training services and online applications; and education content and services including integrated online teaching and learning resources for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. The Central Montana Plains lie to the north of the mountains along with the city of Billings and the Crow Reservation, and the Bighorns continue on past them to the Great Basin area of Wyoming, covering 200 miles in all. Ecological Monographs provides that room, with an expansive view to a sustainable future. Or if you fancy a spot of camping up at Bighorn Canyon there are various campgrounds like Afterbay Campground, which is open all year and has 27 sites. Conveniently located half-way between Mt. (307) 548-5406 is the South District in Lovell, WY. It contains 15 trails in all and covers 17 miles. Visitors experience a diverse landscape - from grasslands to alpine meadows, clear lakes to glacial . Red sediments are common today in places that have strong seasonal changes in rainfall, like the tropical and continental interior areas that experience monsoons. Wyoming northward into south central Montana. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock your best information source for northern The Big Horn Mountains and Bighorn National Forest The Douglas-fir/Ponderosa Pine Forest is the dominant habitat in the higher, wider section of Bighorn Canyon. Conveniently located halfway between Mt. This stately conifer is widely distributed throughout the west, and grows in nearly pure stands along the eastern flanks of the Bighorn Mountains. Its bright-red color makes it stand out among the other more subdued colors of the adjacent formations. Highest Peak 13,179 feet (Cloud Peak, WY). Open landscapes make for great wildlife viewing as well. Sheridan, WY 82801 Each year, these parks see more than 3 million visitors who arrive from all directions, and those who come to Yellowstone from the east by way of Cody must pass through a vast, dry depression known as the Bighorn Basin. Merging paleontology, geology, and artistry, Ancient Wyoming illustrates scenes from the distant past and provides fascinating details on the flora and fauna of the past 300 million years. The Beartooth Butte Formation contains a mix of marine (brachiopods and snails) and land (scorpions and plants) organisms, providing a perfect window into the very environment where this remarkable water-to-land evolutionary transition was taking place. Found in the forested areas are coyotes, snow- shoe hares, red squirrels, marmots, chipmunks and blue grouse. endobj Much of the range is included within the Bighorn National Forest, which covers close to 1,800 square miles of land to the east of the Continental Divide in Montana and Wyoming. United States government. Welcome to BIGHORNMOUNTAINS.COM Mature trees have a reddish-orange bark made up of broad, irregular, scaly plates that are reminiscent of puzzle pieces. The channels are filling with sediment that has eroded from the surrounding hills. 1999 BigHornMountains.Com, LLC. Treatment of infestations is aimed at harvesting and burning, or chemically spraying, bug infested trees. They have legs for walking and paddles for swimming, so they can easily move in and out of the water. The Big Bighorn National Forest, all of which provide the traveler with scenic +"" Like all of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations in the basin, the Morrison crops outaround the basins rim. Sight of bighorn sheep remains a thrill. Bighorn Scenic Byway. On granitic substrates forests cover over 80% of the surface and are composed chiefly of Pinus contorta with Picea engelmannii-Abies lasiocarpa at higher elevations. *Closed federal holidays. Amenities include picnic tables and fire rings, and vault toilets and potable water are also available. 1 0 obj var minutes=mydate.getMinutes() Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar ( Lophocampa caryae) These fuzzy caterpillars are white with black markings. On February 22, 1897, USDA Forest Service Buffalo, Wyoming 82834. The Ponderosa pine forest in the Sand Turn area is becoming a "taste treat" for the beetles, as the forests are the proper age, size and density for their spread. Browse 191 bighorn mountains wyoming stock photos and images available, or search for big horn mountains wyoming to find more great stock photos and pictures. Driving west on Highway 14, the climb up the mountain begins as the short and mid-grasses of the Great Plains fade in the rearview mirror and are quickly replaced by ponderosa pine forest. United States. Greybull Museum, Greybull. Based on this data, it is clear that Yellowstone sits on top of a large cavity full of partially molten rock known as a magma chamber. are an outdoor paradise filled with recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, function goforit(){ endobj Today, the largest monsoons occur on the largest continents, which means a supercontinent like Pangaea likely had a mega-monsoon. These extreme wet and dry seasons during the Triassic caused massive rusting of the sediments, leaving behind a geological red ribbon that can be seen on all of the continents. The most common mammals in the Bighorn Basin today (pronghorn antelope, horses, and even people!) BIGHORNMOUNTAINS.COM, LLC Three of the trails are to be found near Yellowtail Dam at the north end, while the others are along the southern section of the canyon. Only with myloview! No region in Wyoming is provided with a more diverse landscape -- from lush grasslands to alpine meadows, from crystal-clear lakes to glacial carved valleys, from rolling hills to sheer mountain walls. Help keep America strong and united. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine The three camels at the mouth of the Clarks Fork Canyon probably dont notice the strange cloud rising from the area of Yellowstone Lake some 100 miles to the west, although they certainly would have heard the loud explosion that preceded it. If you explore some of the canyon ridges youll get even better views of the walls and the river. This is a typical spread pattern of the beetles. Sharp claws on its back feet could be used to dig up roots to eat or to protect it from the vast array of crocodile-like predators that roam the landscape. Display our nation's flag proudly! In the distance, barely visible is a group of huge dinosaurs with long necks and tiny heads. var mydate=new Date() To share them with you, we studied the rocks; tracked down the fossils; reconstructed the plants, animals, and landscapes; and then employed an artist to paint them, choosing ancient worlds ranging in age from 520 million years to 18,000 years old. In fact, these red rocks can be seen clearly as you fly over the basin in an airplane and even in satellite imagery from space. The site also has a boat ramp and there is a small beach area popular with swimmers in the warmer months. vacation? More than 3 million people visit every year to vacation in its scenery, observe wildlife, and visit the geysers, boiling mud pots, and other thermal features that make this place so unusual Yellowstone is home to more than half of the worlds geysers. if (document.all||document.getElementById) Find out where to cast your line for stream and lake fishing from the shore or a boat. This route also boasts the largest ancient Medicine Wheel site in Sites like the Howe Quarry are beginning to change that. Wyoming's beautiful Big Horns have to offer you. Lovell, There are three major groups of plants in the park: Each of these groups contains trees and shrubs that thrive in extreme conditions. From outer space or on the Wyoming Highway Map, the basin appears as a giant oval hole about 150 miles long by 80 miles wide. The lake is between 70 and 450 feet deep in the Montana end, and anglers employ various fishing methods to get the best of the deeper waters. In 1991, a 95 percent completeAllosaurusskeleton, now at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, was collected at the Howe Quarry. The Eocene Willwood Formation is exposed as red-and-beige-striped badlands throughout the middle of the basin. [)Q ;nP This is all the more important because the long-necked sauropods, who were clearly herbivores, are the largest animals ever to walk the Earth, yet we have little real understanding about what they ate. Pine stands like those west of Dayton were kept open and park-like by the occurrence of frequent, low-intensity surface fires (and occasional crown fires) that ran up the mountain from the plains every few decades. Others, like Tongue and Devil's Canyon are better viewed on foot. Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) # 12053 if (hours==0) For example, in timber production emphasis areas, timber harvest would be appropriate to reduce the beetle risk by thinning stands to a lower density. 20 US Hwy 14A var dn="AM" The large, flightless birdDiatrymaquietly moves through the lush floodplain forest, stalking a cocker spaniel-sized horse. The butte preserves horizontal layers of Cambrian, Ordovician, and Devonian shale and limestone, with sediments of the Beartooth Butte Formation filling channels cut down into the Bighorn Dolomite. A geology tour with Kirk Johnson, Director of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, and Will Clyde, a geology professor at University of New Hampshire. Bighorn National Forest The best quality posters, , canvas prints, murals, stickers. Most of the forest is open to hunting. Find Big Horn Mountains Wyoming stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Elevations range from 5,500 feet to 13,175 feet - Cloud Peak is 13,175 feet - Black Tooth Mountain is 13,005 feet The most common tree is lodgepole pine. Adult beetles attack trees in July and August, when they bore through the bark into the phloem region, or inner bark. The sites are close to Montanas Fort Smith and accommodate tents and RVs. Some hikers will head back from this spot although you can continue. 20 US Hwy 14A Maintenance levels and amenities vary greatly between some of the sites, but there will always be some nature to hand. xZn8}7@dNEi]l^(:J!ZHYq Ns3sCJm\,+2r~qZ/f9yq2tRwrtB(2E.%Q4gL'Rz=|NxNQ)`H-sv_DP[#,p+rg[N' r/kJ,9N(XQDR7,)^`n_f39&:zv}%M'@B:N6)O'WB2$cUF"|w=LiF2]mN(JGafZpOb=$ddC %/30I`Hz5E& S0\j EZd Conveniently located half-way between Mt. This famous stop-off point in the mountains came into being through an act of Congress in 1966. A number of these patches have become evident over the past few years. 307.674.2600 dn="PM" seconds="0"+seconds Synthetic beetle attractants are also available to manipulate small outbreaks. Interspersed with mountain meadows are large patches of cool evergreen forests extending from just above the foothills to the timber line. Wyoming's Bighorn Basin is an oval scooped out of the northwest quadrant of the state and encircled by neatly aligned mountain ranges. . There are 3 campgrounds at the end of the canyon. Over the next seven weeks, the Bighorn Fire consumed almost 120,000 acres, the largest blaze ever recorded in the Catalina Mountains or anywhere else in Pima County. Historically, fire was the most significant factor to influence the Bighorn Mountains. In 1959, a magnitude 7.5 earth- quake on the western side of the park caused an 80-million-ton landslide that dammed Hebgen Lake and killed twenty-eight people who were camping along its shore. This item is part of a JSTOR Collection. When you are out on the plains heading west you will have watched the mountains slowly rise above the horizon for many miles. ft. 15 Big Horn Ln, Noxon, MT 59853 $2,399,000 MLS# 22301200 A piece of Noxon history, the Big Horn Lodge, is on the market. This is when all of the worlds continents had come together into the great supercontinent called Pangaea. For thousands of years, human cultures Two peaks rise to over 13,000 feet (4,000 m): Cloud Peak (13,175 ft, 4,016 m) and Black Tooth Mountain (13,005 ft, 3,964 m). Forest the place for you to experience an exciting, relaxing, and stress-free Animal And Plant Life The quarry also preserves carbonized remains of large trees and cones of extinct conifers. Visit the Bighorn National Forest and enjoy the multiple reservoirs, 32 campgrounds, 3 scenic byways, 14 picnic areas, 7 lodges, miles and miles of streams, 189,000 acres of Wilderness, 1,500 miles of trails, and much more that provide a forest experience unique to the Big Horns. Douglas-fir - The Second Tallest Tree Bighorn Mountains Dendrochronology In August and September of 1998 we collected increment cores from 30-45 of the oldest trees at each of 3 sites along the western base of the Bighorn Mountains, WY, and the Pryor Mountains, MT (table below). Deeply colored red mudflats can be seen far into the distance. They require greater moisture then species to the south. The trusty US 14, which winds its route through the mountains, is open all year, and will also allow you to reach them from Yellowstone in Montana. The oval cones are 3 to 6 inches and the scales are tipped with a stiff prickle point. The Bighorn Basin is a curious bit of topography, and it has one of the best geological stories on the planet. Lurking under the brackish water are armored fish, snails, and brachiopods. Horn Mountains extend from the plains and Great Basin area of The Bighorn Basin to the west of the mountains separates them from a few other areas key to the geography of the land like the Absaroka Range, the Shoshone National Forest, and Yellowstone National Park. They extend out of south-central Montana near Big Sky before rising high up into the plains and stretching beyond them. Bighorn Lake is more than 70 miles long in its entirety and is a great spot for some boat fishing. This forest harbors an abundance of species primates, tapirs, rodents, and crocodiles living amid laurels, legumes, and palms. Your Privacy Rights hours=12 The first fur trappers would have been the first white men to come into the Bighorn Mountains, yet before that, Native American Tribes used the range in their search for food and hunting. The chamber begins about six miles below the surface and extends down at least 11 miles and is about 25 miles wide and 45 miles long. Feb 27, 2023 Updated 19 min ago. For full source code, installation instructions, 100's more DHTML scripts, and Terms Of Use, The sites operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. July and August are the best times to visit if you want the best of the warmer weather, otherwise, youll likely get high trails covered in snow. Ice fishing is also something of a tradition at Bighorn Lake for families from both ends in Montana and Wyoming. var hours=mydate.getHours() The females build a network of pathways in the phloem, called galleries, where they lay their eggs. The pendant cones are 3 to 4 inches long and have distinctive three pointed bracts which protrude prominently above each scale. (307) 548-5406 is the South District in Lovell, WY. In this place, the history of the Earth lies on the ground as if it were an open book. MLS # 22304833 The trees look vaguely familiar but on second glance are clearly not. Despite these efforts, mountain pine beetles are often highly successful. United States. Anyone fishing these waters can expect various trout species along with yellow perch, smallmouth bass, and of course walleye. Horn Mountain Festival, State In addition to depositing eggs, the beetles carry a fungi that causes a blue-gray staining of the wood. scenic vistas, mountain trails, fresh air and the freedom of wide open spaces. Welcome home. Within the National Forest area, you can encounter grass prairies, evergreen forests, This picture shows mountain pine beetle at work in the ponderosa forest near Sand Turn. daym="0"+daym The Bighorn National Forest, including the A lone rhynchosaur ambles across the plain, leaving a track in the soft mud underneath. All the species found in this area have one common characteristic: survival. Here, we present five. Are the Big Horn Mountains and the Bighorn National Google Maps In the Sheridan Post, July of 1905 . var montharray=new Array("January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December") There is plenty to see and do around the area, like taking in the rugged and natural scenery, the wildlife, and recreational opportunities like boating, fishing, ice fishing, camping, and over 12 hiking trails. minutes="0"+minutes camping, hiking and backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, picnicking, Lodgepole is found in "..merchantable quantity and dimensions in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming." Pines and Aspen trees in the Bighorn National Forest. The Montana section of the recreation area is located in a small town known as Fort Smith. if (minutes<=9) Outbreaks have killed more than 1,000,000 acres of forest when they reach epidemic levels. The Bighorn National Forest welcomes volunteers, partnerships, advisory councils, and research to accomplish work. The trees in the center of this patch were killed several years ago, and are surrounded by red-needled trees that were killed in the last year or two. The mosaic of beetle-killed trees interspersed with live trees in the pine forests of the Bighorns is a reminder that forests change, with or without human interventions. uka9HBNd%|i=p` "(^#I*$c&EG?Ryu#p,T[N ThKBqK3R~Z*@2s 5Cq%ux~r{qt$eM.m(zE5YX> m [hc6 ,m1$d+32/N.jCRmR12P?m`q6 V+{!2) u]wM25`TF$aMQ3{,5vgh 6MBU)! People come from all around for hiking, backpacking, and camping, as well as for horseback riding, mountain biking, fishing, and various winter activities. Conveniently located halfway between Mt. Black Canyon Campground and Day Board 9 are the two with boat access, and they are both free to use. The Lower Layout Creek trail takes you to the vicinity of Cowley in Wyoming. hours=hours-12 WY /* An exception would be the west Dispersed camping is allowed on Bighorn Lake below the high watermark of 3640 feet elevation in undeveloped areas, although some of these sites may not be available during high waters. History buffs come to this region to explore the land that once felt the footsteps of legendary giants like Jim Bridger, Lewis and Clark, Red Cloud, Plenty Coups and Buffalo Bill. This came in conjunction with the Yellowtail Dam construction by the Bureau of Reclamation. In 2020, the citizen-led Dispersed Camping Task Force provided Bighorn National Forest leadership several recommendations to improve dispersed camping management. The higher elevations and north facing slopes retain the moisture and keep the temperatures lower than that found in the grasslands, juniper woodlands, and desert. The eggs quickly hatch, and the larvae overwinter in the trees, then mature and fly from their home tree the following summer to commence another cycle. Join the conversation. document.getElementById("clock").innerHTML=cdate Studies in the vicinity of the Big Horn Mountains include the description of spruce-fir forests of the Medicine Bow Mountains in south-central Wyoming by Oosting The Morrison Formation is perhaps the best window into the world of giant Jurassic dinosaurs, but the picture is cloudy because bones are much more frequently preserved than are plants. var seconds=mydate.getSeconds() if (!document.all&&!document.getElementById) Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park, the Bighorns are a great vacation destination in themselves. The layered rocks of the Bighorn Basin were once ancient landscapes, and the fossils in the rocks are clues to what these landscapes looked like, what the ancient vegetation was, and what kinds of animals lived here. The east face of the Pryor Mountains has a dense Douglas-fir Forest. Offices hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.,M-F Many scientists wonder if we are heading back to a greenhouse world like the Eocene as we continue to burn fossil fuels (like Fort Union coal) and release long-buried carbon back into the atmosphere. Sign up for our FREE weekly email.Delivered to your inbox every Friday. During the 1800's the Big Horns provided usa, wyoming, sheridan, gravel road across landscape - bighorn mountains stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images . Bighorn National Forest USDA Forest Service [2] They support an ecotone or ecological transition zone, that including Yuccas and Joshua trees on the desert floor and stands of Jeffrey Pine at higher elevations. BIGHORNMOUNTAINS.COM, LLC The Willwood Formation is one of the thickest geological units in the Bighorn Basin as thick as 5,000 feet and it preserves one of the most abundant and diverse suites of fossil land animals and plants known anywhere in the world. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock The bighorn sheep found in the Pryors are originally from a small herd that was reintroduced into Wyoming's northern Bighorn Mountains. <> The 70,000-acre Recreation Area straddles both northern Wyoming and the southern Montana borders, and there is a visitor center in each state. Trees that are under stress due to old age, drought, crowding, and diseases are most susceptible to an attack, but will often mount their own defense against an invasion; the presence of white or reddish-brown pitch tubes on the trunk indicate an attempt to drown beetles with resin as they bore into the inner bark. They eventually turn into rusty-brown moths with cream-colored blotches all over their wings. Small Business Tree Planting Partnerships, Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences, Financial Accountability and Transparency, U.S. National Forest Campground Directory. 307.674.2600 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) have flat needles that are 1 to 1 inches long and grow directly out in all directions from the branch. //change font size here ) or https:// means you've safely Plant species include both prairie grasses and wildflowers, such as big bluestem grass, purple prairie clover and blazing star. A small local museum with a long history andexcellent samples of local fossils and minerals. These scorpions of the water are some of the largest predators of the Paleozoic and close evolutionary cousins to spiders and horseshoe crabs. Mt baldy and bighorn peak in the san gabriel mountains near ontario on prints from myloview. if (hours>=12) resources that move our mind and soothe our souls -- wildlife and wildflowers, magnificent 307 548-5406 Most of the best dinosaur fossilshave come from the eastern edge, and activedinosaur quarries occur from Thermopolis to Shell. Fishing is probably the main attraction in the canyon area as well as along the Bighorn River. var day=mydate.getDay() The Woods. Share sensitive information only var cdate=""+dayarray[day]+", "+montharray[month]+" "+daym+", "+year+" "+hours+":"+minutes+":"+seconds+" "+dn n+wSJ`4M34?3f#UqeGP%qc+xHl4`~nI."4Z9K(lsBl?F4&i%UG5b@$@Pe e? Thus soil-water relationships are important in determining vegetation pattern. Cookie Policy With the advent of fire suppression around the turn of the century, the patchy ground fires that created openings and variety in the forest composition were snuffed out, and forests have become more densely stocked.