The long, cold winter of 2013-14 was still not cold enough to significantly affect mountain pine beetle numbers in Alberta.
The provincial environment department said today that survival rates were moderate to high in most of the pine forests where the damaging beetles are already resident.
Environment minister Robin Campbell said survey results mean aggressive action remains the best option for fighting the beetle.
“Results show beetles continue to survive the winter across much of our pine forests, meaning populations are unlikely to naturally decline in the near future,” said Campbell.
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The department said almost 15 million acres of pine forest are susceptible to attack, which threatens watersheds, fish and wildlife habitat, tourism and recreation, in addition to the $4 billion forest industry.
Alberta has spent more than $414 million since 2004 on pine beetle control, mostly through strategic harvesting and prescribed fires.
The mountain pine beetle kills trees by destroying tree tissue under the bark and introducing fungi that inflict further damage. Lodgepole, jack, ponderosa, whitebark, limber and Scots pine tree species are all susceptible.
You can see a map of the survey results here (PDF format).
