Feature Story
October 2, 2006

Public's help sought in finding mountain pine beetle-infested trees

Pitch tubes, creamy-coloured globs that look like crytalized honey, are a sign that a pine tree may be infested with mountain pine beetles.

The provincial government is asking people to look for signs of mountain pine beetles in pine trees along the eastern slopes and in northwestern Alberta, as far north as Peace River and as far east as Fox Creek.

Mountain pine beetle-infested trees were recently discovered in and around Grande Prairie , Peace River, Berwyn, 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.

Mountain pine beetles prefer mature pine trees, about the size of a telephone pole.

The things to look for are:

•  pitch tubes, which are creamy white globs that look like crystallized honey on the bark, and

•  sawdust at the base of the tree.

If you find a pine with either of these signs, call 310-BUGS (2847) right away to report the location.

The government is in the process of conducting detailed surveys that will provide it with a good understanding of the extent of the infestation. It will then implement a strategy to get rid of the infested trees before the beetles emerge to infest other trees next summer.

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.

A newly-infested pine tree will have sawdust at its base.

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.

Last August, a mountain pine beetle advisory committee met for its inaugural meeting.

The committee - composed of members form the forest industry, municipal governments, First Nations, environmental groups, the federal government, the provincial government and members of the public - suggested the government continue its aggressive approach towards mountain pine beetles.