The nature of the Cape Breton Highland forests with harsh, stormy winter conditions and deep snows made the sites appropriate for deep-rooted hardwood trees that could better withstand heavy winds and summer droughts. Conifers, on the other hand, are shallow-rooted and more susceptible to drought, insects, and wind. …According to science regarding their history, disturbances in Nova Scotia forests tended to result from hurricanes and insect infestations. Forest fires were rare. …Forests were not as vulnerable to fire until land clearing by humans began roughly 300 years ago. The interval between natural disturbances before Europeans arrived is estimated at 800-1,000 years. Humans are now harvesting and removing trees from many sites every 40 years. …Moose need to move through mature forests with small openings containing younger, diverse tree species for food, with aquatic vegetation available in waterways.