Beetle damage skyrockets to nearly a million acres in Southcentral Alaska

[TexasTowelie]

PALMER — A beetle infestation already decimating Susitna Valley spruce trees worsened sharply this summer.

Spruce beetles killed trees across nearly 558,000 acres of forest this year and mostly in Mat-Su, according to an update released Monday by the U.S. Forest Service and Alaska Department of Natural Resources.

That brings the total area hit by Alaska spruce beetles to nearly 1 million acres since the outbreak started in 2016. It's increased twofold every year.

Researchers also say the numbers don't necessarily reflect the total acreage killed by beetles, just those spotted during aerial surveys.

Read more: https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/mat-su/2018/10/01/beetle-damage-skyrockets-to-nearly-1-million-acres-in-southcentral-alaska/

[msongs]

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