Beetle populations continue at outbreak numbers for the last several years, and overstocked, drought-stressed, mature trees allow populations of beetles to persist at epidemic levels in some areas.

Almost 74,000 acres of Douglas-fir mortality were mapped in eastern Washington in 2003. Although down substantially from the last few years, Douglas-fir beetle continues to kill large numbers of mature Douglas-fir in Spokane, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties!

Tree damage from the ice storm of 1996-1997, followed by prolonged droughts continues to stress trees!