Alpine Forest Blues

The mountain pine beetle, is reaching altitudes that it has never reached in known history, wearking havoc on the alpine lodgepole pine population. Yet another example of how climate change has an effect on the life cycles and range of organisms. Of course, if the forest were left alone, the beetles would probably exhaust their food supply and the pines could have some time to regenerate under the right conditions.

This is the largest known insect infestation in North American History, according to Canadian Officials. It has killed more trees in this area than wildfires or logging. Normally, the insect's range is from Northern Arizona to Southern British Columbia, with freezing temperatures in the higher altitudes killing it off if it reaches that high. But without freezing temperatures...