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Mountain Pine Beetles Found in Grande Prairie, Peace Region and Fox Creek
The provincial government is asking people to look for signs of mountain pine beetles in light of recent discoveries of infested pine trees in and around Grande Prairie, Fairview and Fox Creek. It's the first time the forest pests have been found so far north and so far east of the B.C. border. "We are confirming reports received from the public and industry," said Erica Lee, a mountain pine beetle prevention specialist with the provincial government. "We'll conduct detailed surveys in the fall and that will give us a good understanding of the extent of the infestation." The government will then work with municipalities and other stakeholders to develop a strategy to get rid of the infested trees and the beetles that are in them. Typically, infested trees are cut and burned. "What's important for people to know right now is that the beetles have just entered the trees in the last few weeks and no beetle will emerge from the trees for a year," added Lee. "That's the amount of time we have to get rid of the infested trees."
Mountain pine beetles are a serious threat to Alberta forests. From 2002 to 2005, the province averaged about 2,000 beetle-infested trees. Last year, however, that number climbed to 19,000. Of that, more than three-quarters of the infested trees were in the Willmore Wilderness Park . In British Columbia , a mountain pine beetle epidemic has devastated the pine forest. More than 8.5 million hectares of pine forest have been affected by the beetle. Officials estimate the mountain pine beetle population in B.C. will peak in 2013 and kill 80 per cent of the pine forest.
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