A tiny pest helped stoke this year’s devastating wildfires

[Coyote]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

 

[fncceo]

They call him 'Smokey' for a reason

 

[theHawk]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

Yea, it has nothing to do with your Antifa friends:

 

[Uncensored2008]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

A tiny pest indeed.

Someone call an exterminator.

 

[Coyote]

They call him 'Smokey' for a reason

View attachment 396278

Smokey the Beetle?

 

[Coyote]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

Yea, it has nothing to do with your Antifa friends:

Sadly no...debunked conspiracy theory.

 

[okfine]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

Correct. Bark beetles are in many areas and devastating.

 

[White 6]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

Brother in law and I picked up a load of blue pine tongue and groove yesterday. The wrapping said it was from sustainable forests. We assumed, because more trees were being killed by the pine beetle every day. Beautiful wood, nice grain with dramatic changes of color and with the holes and burrow markings of the beetle trails throughout each piece. What doesn't burn, makes great looking ceilings, walls and interior accent.

 

[skye]

Tiny pest LOL.....that's how they call the ANTIFA arsonists now?

 

[okfine]

Tiny pest LOL.....that's how they call the ANTIFA arsonists now?

Are you a tiny pest or a large pest? Either size doesn't have a very large brain.

 

[skye]

Tiny pest LOL.....that's how they call the ANTIFA arsonists now?

Are you a tiny pest or a large pest? Either size doesn't have a very large brain.

Bigger brain than you.

That's for sure.

 

[flacaltenn]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

Most people look for the simplest of answers. Especially conspiracy orientated folks who have ONE ANSWER to every problem.. Environmental problems almost NEVER have "one cause".. It's complex.. And in this case, the article is RIGHT ON..

GW is a convenient excuse to IGNORE all the other issues of wildfires. Just like we recently found that coral reefs with a human tourist footprint were dying because of a sunblock ingredient that is deadly in even MINUTE quantities.

MANY countries have similar forest/suburban interfaces like Cali.. And similar droughts and climate and yet THEY don't have our problems.. It's because there's a whole SCIENCE of forest mgt and wilderness mgt that has been tossed out the window because the govt orgs in charge have this imagined vision of NO HUMAN FOOTPRINT in the forests and wilderness.

In addition the things cited in your article, firetrails, fire breaks, infrastructure for forest mgt is BANNED as an option...

Here in Hillbilly Hollywood we have the scourge of Emerald Ash Borers,.. Was just told that ALL my ash trees need to be protected. I've got about 16 of them on the cleared part of my lot.. One already clearly dead -- a couple probably infected. It's gonna rip thru middle tennessee like a wildfire and in the next ten years -- unprotected ash trees will be very rare..

 

[flacaltenn]

If all my neighbors IGNORE this scourge of EAshBeetle -- WE could be in a dangerous human/forest interface with huge wildfire potential... But we wont.. Because we're smarter than beetles.. And that's more than I can say about several state govts with "imagined" forest management concepts..

 

[eagle1462010]

Roadless ACT.............DNC laws will not even allow the forestry dept to build a road let alone a fire break.

Forcing rotting wood to lay on the ground and not burned off attracts bugs........beetles.....

Overgrown trees not thinned kill trees and bugs...........beetles love to eat dead trees......

Many forestry management people like to cut down trees and leave them in piles while thinning the forests..........so the beetles will come into this delicious pile of dead wood and feed.............to be then burned later in a controlled burn.

Decades worth of mismanagement and idiotic laws and Acts have caused this..........and now the left goes........WOW.........I COULD HAVE HAD A V-8

 

[skye]

Bad Management + Antifa Arson = Wildfires.

It's not brain surgery.

 

[flacaltenn]

Pictures from Wyoming -- Pine beetles..

Utah..

 

[HaShev]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

Sorry the beetles didn't set the trees on fire otherwise you wouldn't call them bark beetles, you'd call them pyro beetles or Antifa.
If the beetles are a problem in Cali then why didn't they take their multi million dollar home property taxes and spray the base of the trees where their eggs sit and hatch? Oh that's right, they can't even spray the sidewalk poo, what makes us think infestation of beetles is more important then hairdresser appointments.

 

[flacaltenn]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

Sorry the beetles didn't set the trees on fire otherwise you wouldn't call them bark beetles, you'd call them pyro beetles or Antifa.
If the beetles are a problem in Cali then why didn't they take their multi million dollar home property taxes and spray the base of the trees where their eggs sit and hatch? Oh that's right, they can't even spray the sidewalk poo, what makes us think infestation of beetles is more important then hairdresser appointments.

You ever try to spray 100,000 acres of trees?? For my ASH beetle problem, I've got to do injections or insecticide every 2 years for maybe the next decade.. That's a lot of work for 16 trees.

Bark beetles DONT set trees on fire.. MAN, Lightning, and PGE lines coming down do...

 

[HaShev]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

Sorry the beetles didn't set the trees on fire otherwise you wouldn't call them bark beetles, you'd call them pyro beetles or Antifa.
If the beetles are a problem in Cali then why didn't they take their multi million dollar home property taxes and spray the base of the trees where their eggs sit and hatch? Oh that's right, they can't even spray the sidewalk poo, what makes us think infestation of beetles is more important then hairdresser appointments.

You ever try to spray 100,000 acres of trees?? For my ASH beetle problem, I've got to do injections or insecticide every 2 years for maybe the next decade.. That's a lot of work for 16 trees.

Bark beetles DONT set trees on fire.. MAN, Lightning, and PGE lines coming down do...

It's insecticide now or fire retardant or water later according to the OP blaming beetles.
Yes that's a lot of work as is putting out fires if that can have volunteers then put the hippies to work and get them to save the forests and volunteer.
Lightening was to blame for the previous fires and maybe one recent but most others during this one were arsons.

 

[flacaltenn]

...sometimes it is easy to overlook the not so obvious...

How much are beetles to blame for 2020 fires?

It’s not just hot, dry conditions and fire suppression that has exacerbated 2020's western fires. There’s also the attack of the beetles to consider.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The photos and news from the past month’s devastating fires across parts of the West—charred towns, dramatic helicopter rescues, apocalyptic skies—have provoked fear, anger, and an understandable search for blame. It’s clear that fires are getting worse. But why? Scientists point to a number of reasons. Hotter and drier conditions brought on by climate change can prime vegetation to burn, and decades of fire suppression have allowed fuel to accumulate in forests. Millions of people now live closer to those dry forests than ever. And then there is the matter of the beetles.
There are 600 species of bark beetles in the United States, and they’ve evolved with their various host trees over millennia. Many bark beetles infest already dead or dying trees, but some, like the mountain pine beetle, attack living ones. The mountain pine beetle alone has killed roughly 100,000 square miles of trees across western North America over the past 20 years, from New Mexico all the way up to northern British Columbia. Climate change has instigated this dramatic spread, by eliminating the cold spells that kill off the beetles and by leaving the trees stressed by drought, unable to defend themselves.

Sorry the beetles didn't set the trees on fire otherwise you wouldn't call them bark beetles, you'd call them pyro beetles or Antifa.
If the beetles are a problem in Cali then why didn't they take their multi million dollar home property taxes and spray the base of the trees where their eggs sit and hatch? Oh that's right, they can't even spray the sidewalk poo, what makes us think infestation of beetles is more important then hairdresser appointments.

You ever try to spray 100,000 acres of trees?? For my ASH beetle problem, I've got to do injections or insecticide every 2 years for maybe the next decade.. That's a lot of work for 16 trees.

Bark beetles DONT set trees on fire.. MAN, Lightning, and PGE lines coming down do...

It's insecticide now or fire retardant or water later according to the OP blaming beetles.
Yes that's a lot of work as is putting out fires if that can have volunteers then put the hippies to work and get them to save the forests and volunteer.
Lightening was to blame for the previous fires and maybe one recent but most others during this one were arsons.

Or letting folks in to SALVAGE the wood while it's still standing.. We're building a lot of biomass power plants.. BAD idea, but they need to be fed.. Also can be used to make building materials with the sawdust or pulp..