Wildcat forest
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A small insect poses a threat to destroy many acres of trees in the Wildcat Hills.
The mountain pine beetle, which has killed millions of acres of pine trees in the western U.S., has shown up on trees in several western Nebraska communities.
Forest health experts with the Nebraska Forest Service said mountain pine beetle attacks have been reported in Scottsbluff, Gering, Minatare and Kimball.
Adult mountain pine beetles bore into pine trees and leave small marble sized masses of resin on the trunk eventually killing the tree.
"The reason this forest beast is such a serious concern for us is that it is terribly aggressive, and mountain pine beetles are a true tree killer. It leaves very few survivors behind," says district forester Doak Nickerson.
To reduce the risk of the beetles spreading to nearby pines, infected trees should be removed and either chipped, burned or moved two miles from other pines.
