Description:
Mountain pine beetle populations developed to epidemic level in
Glacier National Park in 1972. Buildup ratio of old to newly
attacked trees was 1:1.8 from 1976 to 1977. More than 12 million
trees are infested on 142,871 acres. Buildup ratio is expected to
exceed 1:3 from 1977 to 1978. Management with fire is recommended to
reduce potential hazard and to create a mosaic of young stands within
the extensive areas of large timber. In high use areas, all green
lodgepole pine 7 inches d.b.h. and larger which are to be retained
should be treated with the protective spray Sevimol-4®. Hazard trees
should be removed.
More than 1.5 million trees are infested on about 27,000 acres on the
Glacier View Ranger District. Buildup ratio from 1976 to 1977
exceeded 1:5, and is expected to exceed 1:5 from 1977 to 1978. An
accelerated program of logging infested and high risk trees is
recommended for high hazard stands. Silvicultural methods for
management of various stands are discussed.