City arborist says be prepared for pine beetle invasion

Is the Estes Valley facing a pine beetle infestation? Brian Berg, Estes Park arborist and parks supervisor, says no — at least, not yet.

Berg, speaking to a gathering at the Estes Valley Library Monday night, said he has not seen a lot of dead trees in the valley so far. But be prepared.

“I would not say the Estes Valley is in an epidemic of mountain pine beetle…but we might get hit hard,” he said. “This year will be a good teller of what might come.”

He added that “nobody knows what will happen this year,” because the warm winter has made normal predictions impossible.

Berg’s comments echoed those of rangers from Rocky Mountain National Park last week.
Mainly, the mountain pine beetle outbreak, which peaked in 2009, was not a random event, and some of the same conditions that helped fuel it have returned. The deep winter freezes that inhibit pine beetles have also not taken place in recent years.

Rangers said that although some factors may limit the odds of another park-wide epidemic soon — including the loss of many susceptible trees in the last outbreak — the outlook is mixed. Climate change, recent drought, warm winters, regional beetle activity, and recent pest attacks inside the RMNP are reasons for concern.

“If we continue with the lack of moisture, we will see more dead trees,” said Berg. And not just ponderosas.

Berg, who has lived in the area for 16 years, said he has never seen so many dead or dying Douglas fir trees along Highway 34. These highway trees succumb more quickly to drought than other trees, in part due to the chemicals the Colorado Department of Transportation applies to the road.

“Seventy-five percent of those trees have beetles in them,” he said.

Berg’s tree talk covered a host of other afflictions that trees suffer from. But he also said healthy trees can fight off many pests and recommended deep watering of favorite trees, particularly very old trees.

“(Do) anything you can to help that tree withstand the onslaught that may or may not be coming,” he said.

Berg said he wasn’t an expert in chemical applications, but suggested homeowners check out the Colorado State Extension Master Gardener program for advice.

“This year, I am leaning toward preventative spraying,” he said.

In response to a question from the audience, he suggested that homeowners not keep dying trees in place. Previously, these habitat trees were left for insects, birds, and small mammals. Now, however, due to the drought, dead trees should be cut down.

“I love habitat trees,” he said. “But now it’s not worth the chance of bringing in more pests. Cut it down, it’s a beacon for (pine) beetles.”

If you live in Estes Park, Berg can make a house call to help you identify pests. Contact him at bberg@estes.org.

The state of Colorado is taking the mountain pine beetle infestation seriously, with an eradication (spraying) program ongoing in Pike National Forest, west of Colorado Springs. The statewide program is focusing on and observing the ponderosa pine forests of the Front Range in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service.