What is the overall pine bark beetle situation in the Southwest?
Beginning in 2002, several species of pine bark beetles experienced a population explosion. The region-wide drought weakened trees’ normal way of resisting these insects . In 2003, more normal precipitation levels helped reduce tree mortality levels in many ponderosa pine forests, however, piñon pine mortality levels continued to increase. Consequently, millions of trees were killed in Arizona and New Mexico. Mortality in 2004 and 2005 was considerably reduced compared to the previous two years. In many areas, the highly susceptible trees have already been attacked and killed, while greater moisture has improved the health of many of the remaining trees.
