Douglas County warns of rising mountain pine beetle threat, wildfire risk

Douglas County warned residents on June 24 to look closely at ponderosa pine stands for signs of mountain pine beetles, with the greatest risk expected in western Douglas County near Roxborough and adjacent national forest lands. Beetle pressure is expected to increase again in ponderosa forests along the Front Range this year.

The insects attack by burrowing under the bark, cutting off the tree’s ability to move water and nutrients. Once that happens, a pine can die within a year. County officials urged homeowners to watch for changing needles, pitch tubes and boring dust, along with other signs that a tree is under stress.

Dead or weakened pines can add to fuel loads around homes and neighborhoods, and the county tied early detection and tree management to its effort to reduce wildfire danger during a dry year. Nearly all pine species can be affected, even though ponderosa and lodgepole pines are the most susceptible.

Colorado’s major mountain pine beetle outbreak ran from the late 1990s through 2013 and reshaped forests across Colorado. Douglas County urged residents to catch the warning signs now before beetle activity spreads more widely.

A sick pine can become a hazard quickly, especially when drought stress and beetle activity combine in the same stand. County officials urged residents to examine their trees now, especially in the western part of the county where the conditions for infestation are strongest.