posted by: USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region Forest Health Protection |
Douglas-fir Beetle 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! In the southeastern Cascades, forests previously defoliated by the western spruce budworm are now experiencing mortality due to the Douglas-fir beetle. |
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WADNR Forest Health Home Washington Department of Natural Resources PNW Region Forest Health Protection |