Polis creates task force for managing pine beetles, CU entomoligst Dr. Sammy Ramsey explains what they can do to mitigate tree damage

Last month, the Polis administration announced the launching of a dedicated pine beetle task force to combat the damage to Colorado’s many pine trees caused by the feeding and nesting of pine beetles.

Mounting evidence suggests that the spread of forests consumed and dried up by pine beetles is growing by acres in the Western Slope and they’re making their way over to the Front Range, which would leave our portion of the state vulnerable to more intense wildfires.

Dr. Sammy Ramsey is an entomologist from the University of Colorado Boulder. He says that the beetles have been following their evolutionary relationship with the trees for thousands of years, but other factors are pushing that relationship in the beetles’ favor.

This story aired on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.