ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (AP) - Rocky Mountain National Park is planning several steps to mitigate the effects of a bark beetle outbreak on its trees.
Over the next two months, the park plans to protect up to 6,700 high-value trees in developed areas from being infected by beetles by spraying a Carbaryl-based insecticide on the trees from the ground. The spraying operations will temporarily close parts of the park.
The park treated almost 5,000 trees last year.
The park is also treating up to 300 high-value limber pine trees with a pheromone treatment that is mean to trick a beetle into thinking a tree is already infected.
Throughout the year, park staff and contractors also will be removing hazardous trees that could fall on roads, trails, campgrounds and visitor centers.