Pine Beetle

Check this web site also--> http://beetles.mt.gov/

August 30, 2009

Dear Georgetown Lake Neighbors,

Nearly all the Lodge Pole pines on our property are diseased by Pine Beetles. We discovered evidence of infestation by observing sawdust at the base of our pines or sap plugs extruding from the bark. We realize many property owners at the lake need all or some of their infested trees removed.

We learned quite a bit about what is involved with tree removal by inviting Joe Kanduch of Kanduch Logging to meet with us and several neighbors on 8/29/09 at our home on 1 Sunset Lane, Georgetown Lake in Edwards Tract. We found the tree removal process isn't a simple matter of having a few lumberjacks show up to chop trees down if one wants a clean area upon completion of a logging job.

Through personal experience, we found how difficult it is for an average homeowner to remove just ONE tall tree next to a building or power lines. We tried it and hit the roof of our house due to a slight miscalculation of where we thought the tree would drop. It also cost us the purchase of a high grade saw, several days of clean up, many trips to the P-burg dump and an injured back. You can imagine the discussions that took place with THAT honey-do! Hence, we called in a professional logging service.

Joe Kanduch walked our property and we showed him the only Lodge Pole pines not touched were the very small trees about 6" and under in diameter. It was mentioned if we leave a tree here or there without protection of other trees to make a grove, lone tree tops become sails in the wind and could topple sooner than later. If infested trees become rust color and the pine needles fall off, the tree will start to lose market value.

Joe's suggestion for our spindly trees is to take them out. Removal would be done in minutes by cutting and collecting several at once in the jaws of equipment. Some larger trees would be removed with the same process. Joe's logging process is mostly mechanical to avoid damage to homes and other buildings. He would even coordinate with Northwest Power to lower lines when necessary.

To save us money, some factors that could reduce cost are:

If there is a market for saw logs and or pulp logs at the time trees were harvested. Smaller trees would be used for pulp.
Market price at the time of harvesting.
Ease of access to property and an area nearby to stage trees while harvesting takes place. Neighbors need to work together and may need to take fences down before the ground freezes.
Trees cut to a stump or the stump pulled completely out.
Time spent removing stumps.
Time spent transporting trees and slash to a disposal area.
Trees felled and left in place. Property owners would be responsible for their own clean up of debris, slash, stumps and wood.

NOTE:

There will be additional expense, if Joe has to return because we decide to leave trees in and they eventually become infested.

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Bottom line: Joe has to walk each piece of property and discuss all the above criteria with landowners in order quote a price. Due to the amount of logging Joe has already contracted to do, he estimates his company may be able to start working our area in Edwards Tract around January, 2010. Joe mentioned winter is an ideal time to harvest because his equipment would do less damage to the ground then.

If you contact Joe, he'll set a date and time to walk your land and provide a rough estimate of cost to provide his services that are on a first come first served basis. Again, Joe emphasized each property owner will have different costs associated with tree removal services.

We made several inquires and found grants or state funds to relieve property owners of some logging costs, were awarded to Flathead Lake and Whitefish area. Most monies for forest thinning were dedicated to land on logger's lists about two years ago. The second attachment is a list of area loggers provided by Bryan Lorengo, a local logger and coordinator of the fuels reduction program. Logging companies need to be insured and bonded in case of damage to your property.

We wanted to share our experience with you because so many folks in our community will face the same dilemma.

We cannot answer questions about Kanduch Logging operations, so you will need to contact Joe Kanduch in Philipsburg by cell - 560-3368.

Sincerely,

Jan and Cheryl Christensen

They’re Still Here - Mountain Pine Beetles

Mountain pine beetle is native to the forests of western North America, and periodic outbreaks of the insect can result in losses of millions of trees. To provide perspective, recent reports indicate that in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia foresters expect to lose 80% of the trees in their pine forests by 2013. In Granite County, we can expect our pine beetle populations to continue building for some time.

On large landscapes in Granite County the current mountain pine beetle infestation will most likely run its course with strong impacts on lodgepole and ponderosa pine stands. However, forest property owners and homeowners may opt to try and protect high value trees that provide landscaping and esthetic benefits.

Signs of a mountain pine beetle attack include popcorn shaped masses of resin, called pitch tubes, on the trunk where tunneling begins. Boring dust in bark crevices and on the ground immediately adjacent to a tree base is another sign of infestation. The most certain indicator of attack is the presence of galleries (tunnels) under the bark of a tree. A hatchet can be used to peel some bark from the tree to observe galleries.

What can be done to minimize the effects of mountain pine beetle on high value trees?

The first step is to walk your property and assess the general health of your forest. Learn to identify the trees on your property. Then inspect pine species for the presence of pitch tubes and bore dust. You may want to inspect for galleries in suspect trees as well. All infested trees should be cut and removed from your property. Once a tree is infested it is generally not possible to save that tree, and if felled infested trees remain on the property, the beetles can complete their life cycle and infest other healthy trees.

Remaining trees can be assisted in their battle with the insects with a combination of tools. Carbaryl, sold under the trade name of Sevin XLR Plus is labeled for use on mountain pine beetle, and can effectively reduce the number of insects attacking your trees. Carbaryl application should be accomplished before June, and trees need to be treated from the ground level up to where the trunk of the tree is less than six inches in diameter. Another product, called verbenone, can be placed in a pouch on the trunk of a pine tree to repel mountain pine beetles with a pheromone. For small areas, < 1 acre, each tree should receive a pouch, for larger areas, > 1 acre, pouches should be placed on trees in a grid fashion 30 – 45 feet apart throughout the tree stand.

If you would like to purchase verbenone pouches, contact Dan Lucas, Granite County Extension Agent for more information on pricing, availability, and proper timing and placement of verbenone pouches. It is anticipated that pouches will cost approximately $7.50 each for the 2009 season. Deadline to order pouches is 4 p.m., June 12, 2009.

Dan's telephone number and e-mail: 406) 859-3304 or extension@co.granite.mt.us.

Verbenone by Toby Day

The majority of my conversations about insect-damaged trees in Butte and the surrounding area usually surround the subject of mountain pine beetle. In the control of mountain pine beetle, much has been said about the pheromone verbenone, a repellant that professionals often refer to as a “no vacancy sign” for pine trees.

While not as effective as spraying trees with Carbaryl or other pesticides, verbenone is a less toxic alternative for protecting susceptible trees. Area businesses are starting to carry verbenone. However, there is one catch: the product is made and distributed out of Canada and has a product label that is inconsistent with the recommended timing of application for our area. If you plan to use verbenone to protect your trees, please be aware of this alert from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation:

“The repellent pheromone termed verbenone can be used to protect pine trees from attack by the mountain pine beetle. Verbenone is sold as a pouch that is stapled or nailed to the tree trunk. Retail packaging that provides directions for when to apply verbenone pouches may not correspond to mountain pine beetle biology in Montana. Mountain pine beetles in Montana typically do not begin flying until the middle of July. When using verbenone to protect high value urban pine trees, state and federal entomologists recommend applying two pouches to each tree at the end of June, prior to July 1. USDA Forest Service research in Montana indicates that two verbenone pouches applied to individual pine trees during the end of June provide 80% or better protection. Pine trees are the primary host of the mountain pine beetle, risk to other conifer trees such as spruce is low. Current recommendations are to protect pine trees only, not other species of evergreens. For more information please refer to the Montana DNRC Forestry Division website http://dnrc.mt.gov/forestry/Assistance/Pests/default.asp.”

If you have questions or concerns about verbenone or want information about its availability, contact your local county Extension office. Verbonone is an agent to use that is less caustic to people allergic or sensitive to many chemicals.

Toby Day is the Butte-Silver Bow County Extension Agent specializing in horticulture and 4-H. He can be reached at the Butte-Silver Bow Extension office at 305 W. Mercury #302 in Butte, by phone at 723-0217, or by email at tday@montana.edu