The pine beetle has hit the Snowy Range in Wyoming. The Forest Service estimates that 95% of the forest is dead.
In 4 states more than 4 million acres (that's 6250 sq miles, folks!) have been impacted since the first signs of the outbreak in 1996. Within 6 months, the needles on the pines have turned red and have dropped. The snag will drop to the ground between 2 and 6 years.
What a terrible management problem. We'll never see full-grown pines here again in our lifetime.
