Alabama Forestry Commission dealing with pine beetle outbreak

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Alabama’s trees are in danger, with the state under one of the worst pine beetle infestations in more than 20 years.

The Alabama Forestry Commission is trying to notify landowners to stop the spread.

”We’re hoping that things don’t get any worse than they currently are,“ said forest health coordinator Drew Metzler.

Around 6,500 cases of pine beetle infestations in Alabama have been found, and the forestry commission still has 20% of the state’s land still to look over.

”We actually get up there in a plane, normally we have a pilot and two spotters, and we actually mark spots,” said Metzler

Metzler says outbreaks haven’t been this bad since 2001.

Of the many factors, last fall’s drought could be the reason the beetles have returned in a big way.

”We had a lot of stands that experienced a lot of drought stress. That competition for water just puts them a lot more at risk,” said Metzler.

It could be a loss of revenue for homeowners if trees continue to die, but there are ways to stop the spread.

A tree has been attacked if it turns yellow or brown or has resin on the bark.

“Almost kind of look like little balls of popcorn that come out of the bark crevasses. That’s actually the point where bark beetles have tried to enter the tree,“ said Metzler.

”If you can catch pine beetle spots when they’re fairly small, they can be controlled just by cutting out the infested trees and cutting a buffer of trees around the spot,” he said.

Major outbreaks have been in north Alabama.

For assistance, contact the Alabama Forestry Commission.

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