Hiking news: Rocky Mountain National Park beetle mitigation work continues

May 11, 8:42 PMDenver Hiking ExaminerDeb Stanley

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Denver Hiking Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Dust below a tree damaged by beetles.

Bark beetles continue to be active within Rocky Mountain National Park, impacting large numbers of conifer trees.  The park has already started applying an insecticide to up to 5,000 high value trees to protect them from bark beetles.

According to a news released from park officials, treatment will occur in the following developed areas of the park:  Beaver Meadows Visitor Center & Headquarters area, Moraine Park Visitor Center and the William Allen White Cabin, Kawuneeche Visitor Center, Aspenglen, Moraine Park, Glacier Basin &
Timber Creek Campgrounds, Bighorn Ranger Station, McGraw Ranch, Holzwarth Historic Site, and east and west side park service housing areas.

Last year, nearly 5,000 trees were treated and park officials said most of those trees were not attacked by bark beetles. 

To be effective, spraying must be done annually and applied directly to trunks.  Broadcast spraying is not effective.  Because of possible adverse impacts spraying is not done water courses or wetlands. 

The Longs Peak Campground will not be sprayed.

Rocky Mountain National Park has officials say they have been proactive in fighting the beetle. In 2009, the park will continue its mitigation efforts, including spraying, removal of hazard trees, prescribed burns, utilizing the air curtain burner and implementing temporary closures in a variety of park locations.

Beetle mitigation work also continues at Glacier Basin Campground and Timber Creek Campground as well as specific  backcountry campsites. Most trees in Timber Creek Campground have been killed by the mountain pine beetle epidemic.  Clearing is taking place in both campgrounds. Glacier Basin Campground is expected to be open by Memorial Day with first come, first served sites. Timber Creek Campground is expected to open by mid June.

For more info: For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park. please contact the park's information office at (970) 586-1206.