Spruce beetle infestation grows in southwestern mountains

Aerial surveys show that spruce beetles are spreading in SW Colorado, while pine beetles slow their attack in the northern and central part of the state.

The spread of mountain pine beetles slowed to levels last seen in 2003.
By Summit Voice
SUMMIT COUNTY — Mountain pine beetle activity in Colorado dropped dramatically in 2012, to the lowest level in 10 years, according to state and federal officials who this week released the the results of their latest aerial surveys.
Mountain pine beetles are still spreading across parts of the mountains between Estes Park and Leadville, but new activity was reported on just 31,000 acres, down from 141,000 acres in 2011. Since the outbreak started in 1996, beetles killed trees across more than 3.4 million acres, but it’s important to remember that not every single tree died.
In the aftermath of the infestation, foresters are finding that pockets of younger trees survived the wave of beetles, even in the hardest-hit areas. (more…)
Filed under: agriculture, climate and weather, Colorado, Environment, Forest health, forests, pine beetles | Tagged: Colorado, forest heath, forests, Mountain pine beetle, pine beetles, spruce beetles, U.S. Forest Service | 1 Comment »


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