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We harvest trees to create openings so that
less-shade-tolerant species like oak trees can
grow. It’s about more than growing trees—it’s
about the health of the forest and the improvement of wildlife habitat.”
As we walked along Lye Creek at Darlington
Woods, Carlson pointed out several large decaying trees along the water. “A big hollow beech
tree like this does nothing for timber, but they
produce beech nuts, which are good for deer,
turkey, and squirrels. The hollow cavity provides
denning opportunities for different species.
They’re aesthetically pleasing, and they’re holding up the creek bank. If I looked at this from
strictly a timber perspective, my forest management decisions would be different. But we’re
looking at all the resources of a woods and all
that it provides, to all species, and managing
those resources as best we can.”
When he does collaborate with others on projects, often it’s with Brian Beheler (A’97), farm
manager for Martell Forest. Also a forester,
Beheler manages all the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) properties
in Tippecanoe County—encompassing seven
properties and about 1,600 acres. His home base
is the jewel of the department, Martell Forest.
The mission for all the department properties
includes teaching, research, and extension. The
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farther a property is from campus, the more
difficult it is for students to access. Therefore,
the bulk of an FNR student’s hands-on learning
experiences occur at Martell, the Purdue Wildlife
Area, and other nearby properties.
“Originally, the primary outdoor teaching lab
and research area for the department was Cunningham Forest, an 80-acre property located
about a half hour south of campus,” Beheler says.
“So it was a goal for the department to obtain
larger acreage closer to campus with easier
access for students and faculty researchers, and
Purdue acquired this land in 1958. There are a lot
of forestry and natural resources professionals
out there with fond memories of walking up and
down these hills.”
Like Carlson, Beheler started out as a wildlife major. Once he realized he could do a lot of
wildlife management through forestry, he chose
to pursue that path. His passion is birding, a
hobby he actively engages in every time he’s in
the field.
“I love the forest, the birds, the trees, the wildflowers, the whole ecosystem,” Beheler says.
“When I’m working on a site, I want to know
everything that’s on that site. If I’m doing a timber harvest, I want to consider what else I am
impacting. The beauty of working at Purdue is
I get to see the results of my activities.”
