PINE BEETLE 101

WINTER PARK AND THE FRASER VALLEY

Visitors to Winter Park and The Fraser Valley are noticing an increase in what some locals jokingly refer to as “Colorado Redwoods.”  The Winter Park-Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce has prepared a list of the most frequently asked questions about the current situation in our forests.

Why are some of the trees up here brown or red?

Colorado’s mountains are currently suffering a severe mountain pine beetle infestation.  Lodgepole pines, like those that cover most of the Fraser Valley and surrounding mountains, have been particularly hard-hit.

How can a little beetle kill the trees?

This small beetle lays its eggs under the bark of pine trees, and the hatching larvae tunnel further under the bark to feed, eventually killing the tree.  The dead timber remains standing until felled by fire, wind, or cutting.

Is this normal?

As alarming as it appears to us, the pine beetle kill is part of the normal life cycle of a pine forest.  As the mature pines die, the standing dead wood becomes susceptible to fire from lightning strikes, and the burned-out areas become prime space for the development of a newer, healthier pine forest.   

Why is this happening now?

Under normal conditions, our deep winter freezes will kill off the beetle larvae.  However, natural climate cycles – possibly in combination with man-made environmental changes – have created perfect conditions for a massive invasion like we are seeing now.

What is being done to prevent this?

Although there are some marginally-effective chemical means of preventing the spread of the beetles, spraying is neither practical nor environmentally desirable for the huge tracts of timber found on public lands in the Fraser Valley and surrounding areas.  In most of these areas, the infestation is being allowed to take its course.  In other areas, selective cutting and hauling of infected logs are being used to prevent or control the spread of the invaders.

How does this affect the community?

As humans living in close quarters with the forest, we also put our homes and businesses at risk from forest fire.  Private homeowners and business owners are being encouraged to use spraying, selective cutting, and fire-safe landscaping to limit the fire danger to their own property.

What can visitors do about this?

The standing deadwood not only raises the risk of forest fire, but also presents a danger from falling limbs and trunks.  For these reasons, visitors to the Fraser Valley are encouraged to pay special attention to fire restrictions and to use common sense when enjoying our public lands. 

The Colorado State University Cooperative Extension has information about the mountain pine beetle on its website at http://www.ext.colostate.edu .  For more information about visiting Winter Park and The Fraser Valley, visit our website at www.playwinterpark.com or call 1-800-903-7275.