Bitterroot National Forest

1801 N. 1st Street, Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 363-7100

NEWS RELEASE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tod McKay
Public Affairs Officer
(406) 363-7122

May 10, 2011

FOREST TO BEGIN CARBARYL SPRAYING THIS WEEK

Hamilton, MT. – The Bitterroot National Forest will begin spraying trees in popular campgrounds and high-use
recreation areas this week with Carbaryl, to protect them from the mountain pine beetle. The first area to be
treated will be the Lake Como Recreation Area on the Darby Ranger District. Weather depending, the spraying
could begin as early as this Wednesday in the campgrounds and day-use sites around Lake Como.

The Forest will spray susceptible lodgepole and ponderosa pine trees with the insecticide, registered with the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for mountain pine beetle control. When properly applied, it is 99-
100% effective at protecting trees for the first year and 90% effective the second year following application. It
is mixed with water and applied with a high-powered, truck mounted sprayer to the bark of the tree. To
maximize effectiveness, the chemical will not be sprayed on rainy or windy days.

Officials plans to spray approximately 1,000 trees in the Lake Como Recreation Area – the most popular and
utilized recreation site in the entire Northern Rockies Region of the Forest Service System. The area is visited
by more than 100,000 people annually. See attached list of proposed treatment sites on the Forest. All
treatment areas will be closed approx. 1-2 days during spray operations. Sight closures will be posted at all
affected areas and on the Forest’s website at www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot. For further information on
campground closures you can also contact your nearest Forest Service Ranger Station.

The National Forest is experiencing increasing tree mortality from the mountain pine beetle, an aggressive bark
beetle that is present at epidemic levels over much of the Northern Rocky Mountain Region. The purpose of
protecting the trees in selected high-value sites is to maintain aesthetic quality and recreation value, and also
reduce public safety hazards. Mountain pine beetles are currently killing trees within the proposed treatment
areas at a rate of 14:1; this means that for each tree successfully attacked this year, fourteen trees will likely be
attacked next year. Therefore, treating the trees as soon as possible is important to their protection and survival.

The Forest is planning to combine the use of Carbaryl with Verbenone, a pheromone, which communicates via
smell with the beetles and discourages them from attacking trees. It is also analyzing long-term mountain pine
beetle treatment plans for both the Lake Como and Bass Creek Recreation Areas.

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