By Catherine Hansen

Cooler Wetter Weather May Help Spruce Beetle Epidemic

Jul 5, 2018 | 12:41 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The cooler and wetter summer than we’ve been seeing so far this year may not be the best for camping and outdoor activities,  but it may be good year for forests that are fighting the spruce beetle epidemic.  

It’s hoped the conditions will help kill off some of the growing beetle population. Omineca Spruce Beetle Project Manager John Huybers says “We did get an early spring arrival in late may it got really warm and the beetles were flying actively since that time things have cooled off and the flights are lower.”

Most of the spruce beetle epidemic so far has been focused to the east of Prince George,  but forestry officials will be able to get a better snapshot of how bad the damage is in the fall.  Hotter drier weather saw the beetle population surge in 2015, and there is concern the beetles may be moving west closer to the city.