Falling trees have been an issue in Colorado forests since the mountain pine beetle epidemic hit. But now forest officials are concerned because it鈥檚 not only beetle-killed trees coming down.
Thousands of downed trees - both live and dead - have been reported over the last few weeks in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, both in developed hiking and camping areas as well as more remote, dispersed locations.
鈥淲e have had some pretty high winds these past few months, so that鈥檚 definitely one of the causes,鈥� says U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Reghan Cloudman. 鈥淲e have trees that are both uprooting completely and that are breaking off. So people need to know that it鈥檚 not just dead trees that can fall 鈥� those live ones can, too.鈥�
But forest managers say sometimes even without the wind blowing, trees are falling in such large numbers they鈥檙e having a hard time keeping up with removing them.
鈥淭he dead trees are rotting at the base,鈥� says Sulphur Ranger District recreation manager Miles Miller. 鈥淎nd the live trees, with all their needles, are catching the wind like sails, blowing over and pulling the dead trees down with them.鈥�
Forest Service crews are planning to cut more than 2,000 hazardous trees along roads and in recreation areas.
Cloudman recommends following a few when hiking, camping or off-roading, especially in dispersed areas:
- Look for open areas to park or camp
- Take a saw or ax to remove fallen trees from roads to avoid being trapped
- Remember that dead or live trees can fall without warning 鈥� even when it鈥檚 not windy
