It occurs to me that most non-British Columbian readers might not know what a ‘pine beetle’ is. They’re a normal part of the BC forest ecosystem, but right now their numbers are exploding, due, apparently, to bad forestry practices, and, it seems, global warming. Basically, it’s pretty much a given at this point that they’re going to wipe out a large percentage of BC’s lodgepole pine forests, and there are dangers that they might jump to other species, and possibly make the leap to the vast Canadian boreal forest.
As I sat on the deck today and thumbed this comic, I watched the sun play across the mountains to the east, and noticed for the first time this season just how increased the veins of red pine trees are across the hills. It’s spring, but it almost looks like a fall scene. The problem is, it’s an indication that the trees are dead from pine beetle infestation. The trees that are still green now likely have pine beetles in them, and could be red by next year. After the red stage is a skeletal gray stage.
You can check out this CBC piece on the pine beetle for a little more information, or just use good old Google, if you feel you need to know more.
80% of pine forests in BC will be dead in 6 years… it may seem like a sad thing, but really, im looking forward to the sand dunes and tropical weather.
Why do you have a souless injun guiding the white fat man?
n10ae, don’t forget all the Sandworms you can eat.
Who’re you calling fat?
We get them in Alberta to.