Monday, June 25, 2012

Insect Damage

One of my very favorite places to go camping is in North Park Colorado.  It has been nearly 5 years since I have been up in that area.  During that time the pine beetle has pretty much decimated the area.  I had heard stories but what I saw for myself was shocking.  Hard to believe a tiny bug could do so much damage.  In some areas I would estimate the hillside to be 90% kill.  It is clear to me that the forest will never be the same in my lifetime.  Fire will come, succession will occur, and I will be forced to embrace something very different from the forest that I grew up with.