Crews conduct R-Value surveys at 300 sites across the province to determine beetle overwinter survival rates. This one is being conducted in the Smoky Area.
Mountain pine beetle infested trees are cut and burned to kill the beetles living underneath the bark. Infested trees must be controlled before June 15 to ensure the beetles do not emerge and fly on to infest other healthy pine trees.
If successfully attacked, tree foliage will change colour from green to yellow in the first few months. This will be followed by bright red, brown and eventually grey.