Mont. forest showing signs of pine beetles

Tools

By The Associated Press

Story Published: Nov 3, 2009 at 11:19 AM MST

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2009 at 9:23 PM MST

MISSOULA - An entomologist for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation says the forests near Missoula are showing signs of the tree-killing mountain pine beetle.

Amy Gannon says many trees on the Mount Jumbo saddle have pitch polka-dotting their trunks, a sign that they were trying to flush out the tiny beetles that bore into the tree. The trees still have green needles for now, but next year they'll likely be covered with red needles and dead.

The beetles have already infested swaths of forest around Helena, Anaconda and Deer Lodge. Missoula has an estimated 250 to 300 acres of forest at risk to beetle infestation.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KULR-8 News, Sports, Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Your Weather Authority

Icon
Current Temp 31.0 °F
Fair
Wind : Southwest at
13.8 mph
Humidity : 56 %
Pressure : 30.09 in
More Weather

Party America Sky Cam

More Weather

On Demand

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Links We Like