Pine Beetle Control in Northern Alberta.

CANADA | Sunday, 23 June 2013 | Views [736] | View Smaller Image

A pine beetle control worker stands as close to the fire as he can in order to stay warm. The pine beetle life-cycle lasts one year; it will lay its eggs in the early summer before dying, the eggs will hatch and the larvae will then burrow further in the bark before going dormant for the winter months. This life-cycle means that all control efforts must take place during the coldest months of winter in order to get the trees while the larvae is still inside. Winters in Northern Alberta can quite frequently drop below -40.

Tags: mountain, pine, beetle, infestation, alberta, british columbia, photography, helicopter, forestry, epidemic

In order to kill the beetle, which burrows in between the bark and the cambiam of pine tree, all of the bark must be burnt off the trees. Around 25,000 British Columbian families have either lost their primary income, are at risk of doing so, or have been otherwise effected due to the effects of the pine beetle on the forest industry.

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A pine beetle control crew is evacuated by helicopter ahead of northern-winter storm front. Once a storm hits, the density of the snow falling from the sky would make flying an impossibility for the pilot and any crews not picked up in time would be left in the wilderness until the weather improved. For workers in this environment, the potential for having to overnight in the wilderness during a storm is something that is always at the back of the mind every morning when they get flown into the area they will be working. On this occasion, the helicopter was unable to pick up two workers due to the rapid approach of the storm. They survived the night by building a shelter and a fire.

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Pine Beetle Control in Northern Alberta.

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