Grand County Mountain Pine Beetle - by Peter Gach

When visiting Grand County, you will notice we still have trees that have been affected by the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB). As we have gone through this epidemic the last ten years, nature and its natural enemies of the MPB had little overall effect on its population but eventually nature and the lack of healthy trees willcontrol the population. Birds, especially Woodpeckers will impact the MPB population by pecking and removing tree bark, therefore exposing the larvae to the elements, insect parasites, predators and fungal diseases. Good news is we are seeing a lot of new growth in the areas that people have mitigated.