If you’ve ever taken a drive along Colorado’s stunning Peak to Peak Scenic Byway—from Estes Park through Nederland and Black Hawk and on to Idaho Springs where it terminates at Interstate 70—you’ve probably noticed patches of red, purple and brown scattered across the mountainsides. They’re not changing colors for fall. They’re casualties of one of the most persistent and destructive pests in Colorado’s forests: the mountain pine beetle (Dendoctroctonus ponderosae).
What Are Pine Beetles, Anyway?
Pine beetles, especially the mountain pine beetle, are tiny insects that are about the size of a grain of rice. Although these insects are small, their impact packs a serious punch. These beetles tunnel into the bark of pine trees, where they lay eggs and introduce a fungus that ultimately cuts off the tree’s nutrient flow. Over time, this leads to a pine beetle infestation that leaves damage that weakens and eventually kills the tree.
In Colorado, pine beetles tend to go after lodgepole pines, but they’re not picky. Ponderosa pines, limber pines, and even bristlecones can all fall victim, especially if they’re stressed from drought or overcrowding.
Why the Peak to Peak Region Is a Hotspot
The Peak to Peak region is known for its rugged beauty and panoramic views. Human impact, such as wild fire suppression, has contributed to extremely dense pine forests and warming climate have also made it a prime zone for pine beetle infestation.
Unlike areas that experience hard freezes, which can help control beetle populations, our winters along the Peak to Peak corridor have been milder in recent years. This has allowed beetle populations to surge and spread, causing beetle outbreaks that impact both public lands and private properties.
In addition to the weather we experience, the steep terrain can make forest management and tree removal more challenging, giving beetles more room to spread unchecked.
How Are Pine Beetles Reshaping Colorado Forests?
The effects of mountain pine beetle infestations go far beyond killing individual trees. In regions like the Peak to Peak corridor, what used to be dense pine stands are now opening up into meadows, scrubland, or mixed-species groves. As beetle-killed trees fall or are removed, sunlight reaches the forest floor, encouraging different types of vegetation to grow. This shift can increase wildfire vulnerability in the short term, but it may also pave the way for more diverse ecosystems over time.
We’re seeing more aspen regeneration, more wild grasses, and shifts in wildlife patterns. Elk, deer, and smaller mammals start to use these new open spaces differently, while birds lose nesting habitats tied to mature pines. In short: the pine beetle isn’t just a pest. It’s become a force of ecological change in Colorado.
What Happens When Beetles Take Over?
A healthy pine tree can fend off a small beetle attack with its natural resin, when beetles swarm in the thousands there’s little a tree can do.
Here’s what you’ll see:
- Needles that are dying quickly, turning reddish-brown
- Sawdust at the base or in bark crevices “frass”
- Pitch tubes, which are small sap blobs on the bark where the tree tried to push beetles out
Unfortunately, once a tree is infested, it’s almost always a goner. And if it’s not removed, it becomes a breeding ground for even more beetles next season.
Beyond the trees themselves, beetle-killed wood increases fire risk and makes trails, driveways, and even homes more vulnerable to falling limbs and windthrow.
So, What Can You Do?
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to tackle pine beetle infestations alone. At Good People Tree Service, we’ve helped homeowners and landowners across the Peak to Peak region respond to beetle outbreaks quickly and safely. If you’ve noticed any of the above signs on your property, you have options when it comes to addressing the potential pine beetle infestation.
Here are a few steps you can take:
- Inspect regularly: Especially in spring and late summer, keep an eye out for the signs mentioned above.
- Remove infested trees promptly: This is the single best way to stop beetles from spreading to nearby trees.
- Thin your forest: Overcrowded trees are stressed trees. Thinning improves airflow and tree health.
- Plant variety: Adding a mix of tree species can reduce the risk of future outbreaks.
Need help figuring out what’s going on with your trees? We offer tree health consultations and can help you come up with a plan that fits your property and your budget.
Call in the Good People
Whether you’re in Nederland, Estes Park, Evergreen, or anywhere along Colorado’s majestic Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, we’re your local experts in tree health, beetle control, and safe tree removal.
Mountain pine beetles may be small, but their impact is massive. The key is acting early—before that one sick tree becomes a whole hillside of gray skeletons.
Call Good People Tree Service today or request your assessment online. Let’s protect Colorado’s forests, one tree at a time.