Certain insects, such as hemlock woolly adelgid, may benefit from warmer winter temperatures, creating additional stress for the north-central interior beech/maple forest ecosystem.

Beech bark disease, emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, anthracnose disease, and a variety of other pests and pathogens currently affect this ecosystem. The emerald ash borer has already reduced the white ash component in parts of the assessment area.