Inside the fight to save Colorado’s ponderosa pines from beetle kill
- Posted on October 8, 2026
- By The Denver Post
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- 1 min read
In brief
Colorado faces an escalating crisis as mountain pine beetles devastate ponderosa pine forests at unprecedented rates. Experts from Colorado State Forest Service warn of a dramatic surge in beetle activity, potentially doubling or tripling compared to previous years. This environmental emergency threatens forest ecosystems, wildlife habitats, and community safety. Understanding the causes, prevention strategies, and restoration efforts is crucial for protecting Colorado's iconic forests from further damage.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
Inside the fight to save Colorado’s ponderosa pines from beetle kill
“We anticipate there to be anywhere from twice as much, to three times as much, activity as we saw last year,” says Dan West, a Colorado State Forest Service entomologist. “That is startling.”
