What can be done to manage bark beetles on small land ownerships?
Infested trees should be felled and taken off site. The dead and down material (slash) is a refuge for bark beetles, allowing them to breed, and possibly colonize nearby healthy trees. Thinning of stands is a good long-term preventative measure. However, in some areas, thinning is not recommended under outbreak conditions. The disturbance caused by removal may cause stress in remaining trees and predispose them to bark beetle colonization. In some cases, homeowners have found buyers for the timber. This is very limited. The city of Prescott and Yavapai County also have a tree removal program to assist homeowners within the city limits which is very reasonably priced.
