Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't How to Love a Forest - with Ethan Tapper
6 snips
Oct 27, 2025 
Ethan Tapper is a passionate forester and ecologist from Vermont, known for his advocacy of ecological forestry. In this intriguing discussion, he delves into the impacts of climate change on tick populations and shares his personal experiences with Lyme disease. Tapper highlights the importance of restoring degraded landscapes, like Bear Island, and the balance between wildlife and habitat management. He argues for a shift from exploitative practices to stewardship that nurtures ecosystems, emphasizing the long-term benefits of living machine management for our forests.
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Ticks And Climate-Driven Range Shifts
- Vermont lacked ticks historically but climate and range changes have brought heavy tick problems and tick-borne disease.
- Winter ticks now decimate moose by causing hair loss and fatal anemia when deer and moose ranges overlap.
Fire's Hidden Role In Eastern Forests
- Fire historically shaped many eastern ecosystems but is now limited in Vermont, altering native community dynamics.
- Loss of fire and species reshuffling causes novel problems like winter tick outbreaks and altered predator–prey interactions.
Restoring Bear Island From High-Grading
- Ethan bought degraded land called Bear Island that had been high-graded, overbrowsed by deer, and trashed.
- Over eight growing seasons he used targeted management and machinery to restore forest health and habitat complexity.
