Beetles killing more trees in Washington, likely due to drought

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Washington had fewer dead or dying trees last year, but beetles that feed on dry trees caused greater damage across the state, a concerning trend for environmental officials.

The state’s annual forest health survey from the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service found that Washington’s forests are suffering from increased heat, drought and wildfires, making them more susceptible to deadly beetles that feed on its bark.

Glenn Kohler, a forest entomologist at DNR, said that it’s hard to tell for sure if the drought is causing the beetle populations to spread, but it is likely.

“I think they’re just breeding up in drought-stressed trees and moving to other drought-stressed trees,” Kohler said. “As long as these drought effects remain, I anticipate we’ll see more.”

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/05/16/beetles-killing-more-trees-in-washington-likely-due-to-drought/