Ready for Wildfire
1. Getting ready for wildfire is an unfortunate reality for people who live in and around forests, but very necessary in case of emergency. There are three steps you can take to prepare for a wildfire. The first is to remove dead and dying trees to about 100 feet from a home or building. Dead pine trees and pine needles act as fuel for fires so it's best to remove it before it is too late. The second step is to pay attention to local and state media like the news, twitter, radio, etc, and be aware of any current wildfire threats that could affect your area. The third step is to be prepared to evacuate, especially during the summer months when the chance of wildfire is at its height. Fires can spread quickly so being ready to leave your home may be a life or death situation.
2. Bark beetles are a common insect that have inhabited forest habitats for many thousands of years. Their populations are kept in check by weather, but over the last few years their population has exploded and areas with coniferous trees like forests are extremely vulnerable. Reading about the beetle gave me some insight about how these bugs:
a. The cause of the current population explosion is related to the extensive drought in California, as well as warming temperatures around the globe. Normally the cold winter conditions would kill off the majority of the insects, but with the drought, more trees began to die which attracts the bark beetles and many years the weather wasn't cold enough to decrease enough of their population.
b. When looking for signs of the bark beetle, look at the bark. If you see small blobs of reddish-brown sap there is a good chance the tree is infested. If you see white blobs, the tree was able to stop the bugs from entering. Look at the base of the tree and if there is a bark beetle infestation you may see sawdust like debris, or frass. Another indication of an infestation is visible in the needles, which turn reddish-brown as the trees is dying. Woodpeckers love to eat bark beetles, so you may see holes from the birds picking out the bugs in the bark.
c. Homeowners and property managers will be spending their time more wisely is they treat the problems before they begin. Only non-infested trees can be saved, so spraying a chemical treatment is the best way to prevent the beetles from burrowing in. Removing infested trees in the winter when the bark beetles are less active may help to decrease their numbers even further. The remaining trees need to be monitored and maintained by "thinning overgrown trees, removing underbrush and watering high-value trees".
3. I do not live in a forested area, so I was not aware of the huge problem these beetles have brought to our forests. I have driven though the Sierras and noticed the vast number of dead trees, but I did not know how far the tree mortality had spread. I found it important to note there are plenty of pine trees where I live and they are also susceptible to bark beetle infestation. I liked the "seasonal actions" section which gives tips for maintenance and removal of trees throughout the year.
2. Bark beetles are a common insect that have inhabited forest habitats for many thousands of years. Their populations are kept in check by weather, but over the last few years their population has exploded and areas with coniferous trees like forests are extremely vulnerable. Reading about the beetle gave me some insight about how these bugs:
a. The cause of the current population explosion is related to the extensive drought in California, as well as warming temperatures around the globe. Normally the cold winter conditions would kill off the majority of the insects, but with the drought, more trees began to die which attracts the bark beetles and many years the weather wasn't cold enough to decrease enough of their population.
b. When looking for signs of the bark beetle, look at the bark. If you see small blobs of reddish-brown sap there is a good chance the tree is infested. If you see white blobs, the tree was able to stop the bugs from entering. Look at the base of the tree and if there is a bark beetle infestation you may see sawdust like debris, or frass. Another indication of an infestation is visible in the needles, which turn reddish-brown as the trees is dying. Woodpeckers love to eat bark beetles, so you may see holes from the birds picking out the bugs in the bark.
c. Homeowners and property managers will be spending their time more wisely is they treat the problems before they begin. Only non-infested trees can be saved, so spraying a chemical treatment is the best way to prevent the beetles from burrowing in. Removing infested trees in the winter when the bark beetles are less active may help to decrease their numbers even further. The remaining trees need to be monitored and maintained by "thinning overgrown trees, removing underbrush and watering high-value trees".
3. I do not live in a forested area, so I was not aware of the huge problem these beetles have brought to our forests. I have driven though the Sierras and noticed the vast number of dead trees, but I did not know how far the tree mortality had spread. I found it important to note there are plenty of pine trees where I live and they are also susceptible to bark beetle infestation. I liked the "seasonal actions" section which gives tips for maintenance and removal of trees throughout the year.
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