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HomeNewsResearch shows mountain pine beetle has moved east

Research shows mountain pine beetle has moved east

The mountain pine beetle is starting to move east.

While the bug has gone away in Northern B-C, the outbreak here has lead to a breach of the Rocky Mountains.

University of British Columbia Associate Professor Allan Carroll says the mountain pine beetle carried itself on winds to the Peace Country and then established itself into the pine forests of Alberta.

“And those pine forests, which begin as lodge pole pines next to the Rockies, actually spread east wards and begin to hybridize with jack-pine, ultimately transitioning into jack pine as you get closer to Saskatchewan.”

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Carroll says at this point the beetle is entirely confined to Alberta’s boreal forest.

But the government has spent $350 million dollars since 2006 to prevent the spread.

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