Steve Voelker
@thetreecorener.bsky.social
Aspiring naturalist and plant nerd. I teach about Climate Change & Tree Physiology. Expert in plant ecophysiology, stable isotopes, dendrochronology. I also study fish otoliths. Husband and Dad. Assoc Prof of Forest Ecology & Mgt at Michigan Tech.
Still have the shirt from the 2002 North Central Forest Pest workshop.
In MO, the program focused on red oak borer and armillaria.
But what I remember most is the first report of Emerald Ash Borer spreading outside Detroit and how a pall swept over the conference.
In MO, the program focused on red oak borer and armillaria.
But what I remember most is the first report of Emerald Ash Borer spreading outside Detroit and how a pall swept over the conference.
December 19, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Still have the shirt from the 2002 North Central Forest Pest workshop.
In MO, the program focused on red oak borer and armillaria.
But what I remember most is the first report of Emerald Ash Borer spreading outside Detroit and how a pall swept over the conference.
In MO, the program focused on red oak borer and armillaria.
But what I remember most is the first report of Emerald Ash Borer spreading outside Detroit and how a pall swept over the conference.
In March the MI DNR reported two young cougars from trailcam photos from the UP but the mother was not spotted.
New trailcam photos spotted the mother and cubs, the first known successful cougar reproduction East of the Mississippi in >100 yrs.
content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MID...
New trailcam photos spotted the mother and cubs, the first known successful cougar reproduction East of the Mississippi in >100 yrs.
content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MID...
Mystery solved: Elusive cougar cubs documented again in Michigan
content.govdelivery.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
In March the MI DNR reported two young cougars from trailcam photos from the UP but the mother was not spotted.
New trailcam photos spotted the mother and cubs, the first known successful cougar reproduction East of the Mississippi in >100 yrs.
content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MID...
New trailcam photos spotted the mother and cubs, the first known successful cougar reproduction East of the Mississippi in >100 yrs.
content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MID...
Reposted by Steve Voelker
A deeply dangerous — and blatantly retaliatory action against Colorado — by the Trump administration.
NCAR is one of the most renowned scientific facilities in the WORLD — where scientists perform cutting-edge research everyday.
We will fight this reckless directive with every legal tool we have.
NCAR is one of the most renowned scientific facilities in the WORLD — where scientists perform cutting-edge research everyday.
We will fight this reckless directive with every legal tool we have.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 3:23 AM
A deeply dangerous — and blatantly retaliatory action against Colorado — by the Trump administration.
NCAR is one of the most renowned scientific facilities in the WORLD — where scientists perform cutting-edge research everyday.
We will fight this reckless directive with every legal tool we have.
NCAR is one of the most renowned scientific facilities in the WORLD — where scientists perform cutting-edge research everyday.
We will fight this reckless directive with every legal tool we have.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
It's like on the eve of WWII we decided to stop funding R&D into weapons systems to develop advanced aircraft, ships, and tanks. Climate change is going to kick our butts if we lose NCAR (and NOAA) at a time when climate change is increasing extreme weather events capable of crashing the economy.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 4:24 AM
It's like on the eve of WWII we decided to stop funding R&D into weapons systems to develop advanced aircraft, ships, and tanks. Climate change is going to kick our butts if we lose NCAR (and NOAA) at a time when climate change is increasing extreme weather events capable of crashing the economy.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
NSF is about to dismantle NCAR at Russell Vought's direction to protect the fossil fuel industry. It's hard to communicate just how much NCAR does, so let's take a look: I've never worked at NCAR, and I've worked with NCAR researchers once ever. What scientific discoveries has NCAR made possible? 👇
December 17, 2025 at 4:14 AM
NSF is about to dismantle NCAR at Russell Vought's direction to protect the fossil fuel industry. It's hard to communicate just how much NCAR does, so let's take a look: I've never worked at NCAR, and I've worked with NCAR researchers once ever. What scientific discoveries has NCAR made possible? 👇
Reposted by Steve Voelker
NCAR is foundational scientific infrastructure. This is escalating the assault on climate science, and there is a direct line between this step and the loss of many human lives.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:33 AM
NCAR is foundational scientific infrastructure. This is escalating the assault on climate science, and there is a direct line between this step and the loss of many human lives.
We need some more tree-posting on this app.
This is the oldest known living Douglas-fir in Oregon (and maybe in North America?) I cored it to near the pith in 2006 and was able to re-visit it recently with some other forest scientists.
It is at least 1015 years old, but probably ~1050.
This is the oldest known living Douglas-fir in Oregon (and maybe in North America?) I cored it to near the pith in 2006 and was able to re-visit it recently with some other forest scientists.
It is at least 1015 years old, but probably ~1050.
December 16, 2025 at 2:23 AM
We need some more tree-posting on this app.
This is the oldest known living Douglas-fir in Oregon (and maybe in North America?) I cored it to near the pith in 2006 and was able to re-visit it recently with some other forest scientists.
It is at least 1015 years old, but probably ~1050.
This is the oldest known living Douglas-fir in Oregon (and maybe in North America?) I cored it to near the pith in 2006 and was able to re-visit it recently with some other forest scientists.
It is at least 1015 years old, but probably ~1050.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
🌳Interested in doing a PhD within the Excellence Cluster Future Forests @uni-freiburg.de?🌲
We are hiring a doctoral researcher for the project "Stand Density Management for #Forest Adaptation to #Drought“
Application link: uni-freiburg.de/en/job/00004...
Website: uni-freiburg.de/futureforest...
We are hiring a doctoral researcher for the project "Stand Density Management for #Forest Adaptation to #Drought“
Application link: uni-freiburg.de/en/job/00004...
Website: uni-freiburg.de/futureforest...
December 12, 2025 at 7:18 AM
🌳Interested in doing a PhD within the Excellence Cluster Future Forests @uni-freiburg.de?🌲
We are hiring a doctoral researcher for the project "Stand Density Management for #Forest Adaptation to #Drought“
Application link: uni-freiburg.de/en/job/00004...
Website: uni-freiburg.de/futureforest...
We are hiring a doctoral researcher for the project "Stand Density Management for #Forest Adaptation to #Drought“
Application link: uni-freiburg.de/en/job/00004...
Website: uni-freiburg.de/futureforest...
Look at all those giant stumps just waiting to be studied to learn about past climate and fire history of low elevation Cascades. A trusted colleague tells me most are not over 400 years old, but I bet there are a few really old stumps out there.
The ‘deep drawdown’ of Detroit Lake faces deep skepticism and opposition in Salem and the Santiam Canyon, as locals worry about water quality and tourism even as the area struggles to rebuild from the 2020 Labor Day Fires. Just the latest in this never-ending story: tinyurl.com/7jj963be
December 12, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Look at all those giant stumps just waiting to be studied to learn about past climate and fire history of low elevation Cascades. A trusted colleague tells me most are not over 400 years old, but I bet there are a few really old stumps out there.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
I'm recruiting a #PhDstudent ! Deadline Feb 10th!
Explore how forest management shapes peatlands, riparian zones, streams and the #biodiversity that depends on them. www.slu.se/en/about-slu...
Explore how forest management shapes peatlands, riparian zones, streams and the #biodiversity that depends on them. www.slu.se/en/about-slu...
December 11, 2025 at 8:08 AM
I'm recruiting a #PhDstudent ! Deadline Feb 10th!
Explore how forest management shapes peatlands, riparian zones, streams and the #biodiversity that depends on them. www.slu.se/en/about-slu...
Explore how forest management shapes peatlands, riparian zones, streams and the #biodiversity that depends on them. www.slu.se/en/about-slu...
This is a really unique new paper from Quebec that used sunken logs to create a dendro fire history for the region, certainly the first of its kind!
Our lab is also tying together terrestrial fire history with sunken pine logs in MI, so I was super excited to see this.
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
Our lab is also tying together terrestrial fire history with sunken pine logs in MI, so I was super excited to see this.
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
Keeping logs on the past: Log driving tells the story of fire regimes in pine forests of eastern Canada
In North America, forest ecosystems have changed drastically since European settlement due to logging, land-use changes, and altered disturbance regimes. For example, red and white pine stands declin....
doi.org
December 11, 2025 at 3:52 AM
This is a really unique new paper from Quebec that used sunken logs to create a dendro fire history for the region, certainly the first of its kind!
Our lab is also tying together terrestrial fire history with sunken pine logs in MI, so I was super excited to see this.
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
Our lab is also tying together terrestrial fire history with sunken pine logs in MI, so I was super excited to see this.
doi.org/10.1002/ecs2...
As a grad student I made a point of reading just about every paper my advisors ever published (co-advised for MS and PhD).
However, since I have become a prof 9 yrs ago my grad students (who have been good!) seem to have read 2-3 of my papers, on average.
I wonder if this is common or not?
However, since I have become a prof 9 yrs ago my grad students (who have been good!) seem to have read 2-3 of my papers, on average.
I wonder if this is common or not?
December 10, 2025 at 7:32 PM
As a grad student I made a point of reading just about every paper my advisors ever published (co-advised for MS and PhD).
However, since I have become a prof 9 yrs ago my grad students (who have been good!) seem to have read 2-3 of my papers, on average.
I wonder if this is common or not?
However, since I have become a prof 9 yrs ago my grad students (who have been good!) seem to have read 2-3 of my papers, on average.
I wonder if this is common or not?
Reposted by Steve Voelker
Very cool work by Bryan Black here at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research establishing the exact date of the Electron Mudflow in the Puget Sound metropolitan area: 'Forest-floor burial in 1507 by the largest Mount Rainier lahar of the past millennium'
doi.org/10.1130/G537...
doi.org/10.1130/G537...
Forest-floor burial in 1507 by the largest Mount Rainier lahar of the past millennium | Geology | GeoScienceWorld
New dating of lahar-killed trees underscores volcano hazards in the Puget Sound metropolitan area. Beginning as a landslide from the west flank of Mount
doi.org
December 9, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Very cool work by Bryan Black here at the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research establishing the exact date of the Electron Mudflow in the Puget Sound metropolitan area: 'Forest-floor burial in 1507 by the largest Mount Rainier lahar of the past millennium'
doi.org/10.1130/G537...
doi.org/10.1130/G537...
Who at The Onion thought they need to go after the #Tree-Ring community like this? I am personally offended.
Hometown Unveils Disappointing Microbrewery https://theonion.com/hometown-unveils-disappointing-microbrewery/
December 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Who at The Onion thought they need to go after the #Tree-Ring community like this? I am personally offended.
Wow, what an amazing new find of a 19th century shipwreck in Lake Ontario. I hate that invasive quagga mussels will be slowly tearing this apart in decades to come.
So nice to read a peaceful news story about a sunken ship discovered where they suspected another sunken ship was resting. www.popularmechanics.com/science/arch...
Divers Found a Lost Shipwreck So Remarkably Preserved, They Couldn’t Believe Its Age
The two-masted schooner was fully intact—a rarity in Great Lakes shipwreck finds.
www.popularmechanics.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Wow, what an amazing new find of a 19th century shipwreck in Lake Ontario. I hate that invasive quagga mussels will be slowly tearing this apart in decades to come.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
A well written piece-
“Once you create an agency that’s only focussed on fire, life and safety become the main focus, and any notion of fire as a multipurpose ecological tool loses its value,”
What America Can Learn from Its Largest Wildfire of the Year www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
“Once you create an agency that’s only focussed on fire, life and safety become the main focus, and any notion of fire as a multipurpose ecological tool loses its value,”
What America Can Learn from Its Largest Wildfire of the Year www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
What America Can Learn from Its Largest Wildfire of the Year
When Dragon Bravo ignited, in Grand Canyon National Park, officials decided to let it burn. Then the fire spread out of control.
www.newyorker.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:13 PM
A well written piece-
“Once you create an agency that’s only focussed on fire, life and safety become the main focus, and any notion of fire as a multipurpose ecological tool loses its value,”
What America Can Learn from Its Largest Wildfire of the Year www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
“Once you create an agency that’s only focussed on fire, life and safety become the main focus, and any notion of fire as a multipurpose ecological tool loses its value,”
What America Can Learn from Its Largest Wildfire of the Year www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...
Found this petrified wood on a gravel bar in western Oregon while on a canoe trip years ago.
Not the most beautiful specimin but it has about 200 annual tree rings visible after I had it sliced in half.
Most wood from OR dates to 20-40 MYA so it is the oldest wood I keep in my office on display.
Not the most beautiful specimin but it has about 200 annual tree rings visible after I had it sliced in half.
Most wood from OR dates to 20-40 MYA so it is the oldest wood I keep in my office on display.
December 4, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Found this petrified wood on a gravel bar in western Oregon while on a canoe trip years ago.
Not the most beautiful specimin but it has about 200 annual tree rings visible after I had it sliced in half.
Most wood from OR dates to 20-40 MYA so it is the oldest wood I keep in my office on display.
Not the most beautiful specimin but it has about 200 annual tree rings visible after I had it sliced in half.
Most wood from OR dates to 20-40 MYA so it is the oldest wood I keep in my office on display.
Action shot of a pine grosbeak from when I arrived at work this morning.
Took this with my phone just a few feet away -- birds don't usually cooperate so well.
Took this with my phone just a few feet away -- birds don't usually cooperate so well.
December 3, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Action shot of a pine grosbeak from when I arrived at work this morning.
Took this with my phone just a few feet away -- birds don't usually cooperate so well.
Took this with my phone just a few feet away -- birds don't usually cooperate so well.
I really thought ice cover would have had a substantial effect on evaporation from Lake Superior in winter. It would have some effect from first principles but apparently it is small.
Here is a pic of steam fog evaporating from open water but impeded by ice during very cold winter conditions.
Here is a pic of steam fog evaporating from open water but impeded by ice during very cold winter conditions.
December 1, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I really thought ice cover would have had a substantial effect on evaporation from Lake Superior in winter. It would have some effect from first principles but apparently it is small.
Here is a pic of steam fog evaporating from open water but impeded by ice during very cold winter conditions.
Here is a pic of steam fog evaporating from open water but impeded by ice during very cold winter conditions.
I often take it for granted but here at MTU we live in a wild place and I love it.
Here is a bobcat from our kitchen window from last January (in town, 5-6 blocks from campus).
This is a <1 year old cat born in spring of 2024. We started seeing its mother in the fall/winter of 2023/2024.
.
Here is a bobcat from our kitchen window from last January (in town, 5-6 blocks from campus).
This is a <1 year old cat born in spring of 2024. We started seeing its mother in the fall/winter of 2023/2024.
.
December 1, 2025 at 2:35 AM
I often take it for granted but here at MTU we live in a wild place and I love it.
Here is a bobcat from our kitchen window from last January (in town, 5-6 blocks from campus).
This is a <1 year old cat born in spring of 2024. We started seeing its mother in the fall/winter of 2023/2024.
.
Here is a bobcat from our kitchen window from last January (in town, 5-6 blocks from campus).
This is a <1 year old cat born in spring of 2024. We started seeing its mother in the fall/winter of 2023/2024.
.
Reposted by Steve Voelker
Yes, there are conifers in Greenland! 🌲
500 yr-long Juniperus tree ring-based temperature reconstruction with oldest living shrub 367 yo! 💪
Striking here: 1/3 of corpus is from archive (collected end of 19th c)
Highlights importance of reanalysing old samples using modern analytical techniques! 👏
500 yr-long Juniperus tree ring-based temperature reconstruction with oldest living shrub 367 yo! 💪
Striking here: 1/3 of corpus is from archive (collected end of 19th c)
Highlights importance of reanalysing old samples using modern analytical techniques! 👏
November 29, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Yes, there are conifers in Greenland! 🌲
500 yr-long Juniperus tree ring-based temperature reconstruction with oldest living shrub 367 yo! 💪
Striking here: 1/3 of corpus is from archive (collected end of 19th c)
Highlights importance of reanalysing old samples using modern analytical techniques! 👏
500 yr-long Juniperus tree ring-based temperature reconstruction with oldest living shrub 367 yo! 💪
Striking here: 1/3 of corpus is from archive (collected end of 19th c)
Highlights importance of reanalysing old samples using modern analytical techniques! 👏
Reposted by Steve Voelker
DOGE may have been an utter failure — but it did inspire retired forest-service workers to try and fill the vacuum of the agency it gutted.
Page One, WaPo:
Page One, WaPo:
November 24, 2025 at 11:35 AM
DOGE may have been an utter failure — but it did inspire retired forest-service workers to try and fill the vacuum of the agency it gutted.
Page One, WaPo:
Page One, WaPo:
Reposted by Steve Voelker
Join the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona for our 2026 Dendrochronology Intensive Summer Course (DISC)! Spend 3 great weeks (May 18th to June 5, 2026) in the field, lab, and classroom learning first-hand how tree-ring research is done! ltrr.arizona.edu/summerschool
Dendrochronology Intensive Summer Course (DISC) 2026 | Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research
ltrr.arizona.edu
November 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Join the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona for our 2026 Dendrochronology Intensive Summer Course (DISC)! Spend 3 great weeks (May 18th to June 5, 2026) in the field, lab, and classroom learning first-hand how tree-ring research is done! ltrr.arizona.edu/summerschool
Now this is the way to start winter -- 14-27" of snow predicted by Thanksgiving in Houghton!
It's a short work week, but we've been busy this morning already working on exciting things to support you and the state.
A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, and Vilas Counties, with widespread 8-12" snow accumulations by Thanksgiving!
A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect for Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, and Vilas Counties, with widespread 8-12" snow accumulations by Thanksgiving!
November 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Now this is the way to start winter -- 14-27" of snow predicted by Thanksgiving in Houghton!
The paleo wood biologist niche is small so maybe I should elaborate.
First, finding 15 dugout canoes in a single lake boggles my mind. That is amazing and does not need another hook/lede.
Second, it IS initially surprising that a substantial portion of these are from the red oak group.
First, finding 15 dugout canoes in a single lake boggles my mind. That is amazing and does not need another hook/lede.
Second, it IS initially surprising that a substantial portion of these are from the red oak group.
I find this incredibly unlikely.
I cannot imagine a way red oaks could be injured up and down the length of the tree to induce extensive tyloses formation over years to decades without also inducing extensive decay.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...
I cannot imagine a way red oaks could be injured up and down the length of the tree to induce extensive tyloses formation over years to decades without also inducing extensive decay.
www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...
Were ancient canoes found in Lake Mendota made of bioengineered wood?
The term "bioengineering" was coined in the 20th century, but ancient Ho-Chunk were likely practicing it for thousands of years.
www.jsonline.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:00 AM
The paleo wood biologist niche is small so maybe I should elaborate.
First, finding 15 dugout canoes in a single lake boggles my mind. That is amazing and does not need another hook/lede.
Second, it IS initially surprising that a substantial portion of these are from the red oak group.
First, finding 15 dugout canoes in a single lake boggles my mind. That is amazing and does not need another hook/lede.
Second, it IS initially surprising that a substantial portion of these are from the red oak group.