Mountain Pine Beetle Kristina Hunt

What is being done to stop the rapid spread of the Mountain Pine Beetle?

History of the Pine Beetle  Two outbreaks in the Kootenay (1930 – 45 and 1980-present)  Native species  Naturally found west of the Continental Divide in the Southern Rocky Mountains

Map of Infected Areas in BC

Pine Beetle Facts  Has moved further North and East during recent outbreak  Likes likes to inhabit mature trees  There is currently an abundance of mature trees due to the prevention of forest fires by humans

Pine Beetle Facts  Mild winters in recent years has allowed the Pine Beetle to survive  Very hard to detect in early stages  Carries blue stain fungus that kill trees

Blue Stain Fungus Infected Wood

How It Effects the Forest Industry  Has killed over 50% of the volume of lodgepole pine in BC  Infected wood is being logged quickly to prevent spread  Important to use wood before it rots  Timber supply will be reduced, sawmills will close

Beetle Kill Wood Can Still Be Used

How It Can Be Stopped  A severe cold snap (-30 degrees or colder for long periods of time) will kill the pine beetle  Climate change has prevented cold snaps  There has not been a cold snap in BC for many years

How It Is Being Stopped  Burning beetle infected trees has helped stop it  Infected wood is being logged before it rots  Outbreak has become to big to become controlled, these methods are less effective

Why It Needs A Cold Snap  Larvae spend winter under bark and produce natural antifreeze  Larvae cannot survive extremely cold temperatures  Difficult to detect in this stage  Emerge as adults in the summer and spread to other trees

Cold Snap

Overall  The pine beetle is a native species that has gotten out of control  The only natural way to kill it is a cold snap  Burning and logging is becoming less effective because of the massive size of the pine beetle outbreak