Each part of Colorado is suffering from a variety of problems. Wildfires are a concern, but pests and disease are the biggest reasons for the devastation to the forests. The Colorado State Fire Service is keeping an eye on the problems by splitting areas up in four sections. Southwest Colorado has a problem with three main health issues. By understanding more about them, it’s going to be easy to get the infestations under control to protect the wildlife. Douglas-Fir Beetle As the name suggests, the Douglas-fir beetle is a big problem for the Douglas-firs in the area. The beetles have increased in activity around the low-elevation forests, with around 3,500 acres of land affected in 2021. Drought conditions make the

While wildfires are a big concern for the whole of Colorado, they’re surprisingly not the biggest concern. There are various insects and diseases that cause the biggest problems for the health of the forests around the state. The Colorado State Fire Service has split the state into four sections. Each section has pests that are more specific and problematic to the areas. With persistence, it is possible to get a handle on them. Southeast Colorado has two specific pests that are the main concern. Western Spruce Budworm The biggest concern is the western spruce budworm, which affected around 41,678 acres of forests in the area in 2021 alone. It’s a native pest, mainly affecting the Douglas-fir, true fir, and spruce