Despite a drop between 2013 and 2017 it appears as though the Mountain Pine Beetle problem has reached a peak again in the Cypress Hills Area.

The beetle lives under the bark of susceptible pine trees and overcomes the trees by attacking in numbers.

Insect and Disease Expert for the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Rory McIntosh provides some history on the Mountain Pine Beetle problem in Cypress Hills.

"Cypress Hills had a previous outbreak back in the early 1980's, reaching a peak at about 1982. Approximatley 2200 trees were removed in one year. And had pretty much collapsed by 1984. That was based on a fairly heavy response from the Ministry but also with a great deal of help from some cold weather conditions."

Dr. McIntosh adds that there is a long history of the Mountain Pine Beetle in the Cypress Hills area. The Ministry of Environment manage the area with the cooperation of Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport. 

The presence of the beetle is in fact not tied to the time of year, however this is the time of year when the conduction of the control action takes place. 

The beetle lives underneath the bark of fairly mature pine trees. In the North there are concerns surrounding the potential to spread into the Jack Pine. The natural range of the beetle is typically western continential north america. 

In 2006 and again in 2009 there were two mass disspersal events from the outbreak that occured in British Columbia between 1998 and 2006. They were scattered into Alberta during the mass disspersal event and there have been problems since that time with the potential for eastern spread. 

As mentioned, the beetle lives under the bark of susceptible pine trees which tend to be older ones between 60-120 years old. Similarly to humans, as the trees get older they are less capable of fighting off infections . Young trees form their own defences against an attack. 

The Mountain Pine Beetle overcomes the tree by attacking in numbers, otherwise known as a mass attack. The beetle will test if the tree is suitable and if it is it sends out a chemical message which brings in all the other beetles in the area. As they attack, they also carry with them a blue-stain fungus which they are able to feed on and the fungus also helps to glog up the tree preventing it from defending itself against the beetle. In turn the tree starts to turn fading green then red then yellow then back to red. The red trees have the beetles in them that emerge the following spring so it typically takes one year. 

Dr. McIntosh says they have been monitoring the Cypress Hills area since the outbreak in the 1980's and more recently in 2006 they started conducting detailed aerial surveys by comprehensive and detailed ground surveillance. 

Dr. McIntosh provides details on how they identify the infected trees.

"The only way of finding where the beetles are, is by looking for the red trees from the air. And the red trees show where the beetles were the previous year. The red trees are the ones where beetles have gone through their life cycle and they dispurse from the tree and attack other susceptible trees near by."

The Cypress Hills outbreak began in 2006 and reached a peak in 2013. After control action the outbreak receeded for four years and dropped down between 2013-2017 with as low as 123 trees infested. Unfortunatley numbers began to increase again in 2018. Cypress Hills unfortunatley doesnt seem to see many freezing temperatures and as a result they are seeing very little if any wintering mortality of beetles which has likely led to the increase in the number of trees being removed in Cypress Hills. The numbers have now reached the 2013 peak again with 476 trees right now. 

Dr. McIntosh adds that he hopes that by contining to aggressively seek out these infested trees and burn the beetles inside the trees this will help to control the issue. In addition he says the park is currently working on an eco system management plan. 

Another way that beetles can spread is through firewood. Dr. McIntosh says a goos rule to remember in regards to firewood is to buy it locally and burn it locally. He reminds residents that it is illegal to move firewood out of the Cypress Hills area anywhere further north then the Transcanada highway and hwy 37. It can be moved around in that south-east corner but not outside it.