Forest Sprays for Pine Beetle
Bridger-Teton National Forest has announced it will be contracting with a provider to apply Carbaryl, an insecticide designed for combating mountain pine beetles, in all of the campgrounds and developed recreation areas on the Forest, prompting one-day closures of the areas. Forest Spokesperson Mary Cernicek says many of the lodgepole pine and whitebark stands on the Bridger-Teton have been infested with Mountain Pine Beetle, which has killed trees across the Forest. Consequently, the Forest is having the trees protected chemically in an effort to protect susceptible high value recreation area trees from the beetle. Additionally, Verbenone pouches, which are pouches that emit special chemical pheromones to keep insects from invading particular areas, will be placed in various parts of the campgrounds in order to deter the beetles. Treatments of these areas will begin during the second week of June, and the forest recreation staff will be posting those areas with information of the upcoming schedule.
