FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2025 

MEDIA CONTACT: Ben Koisti, Ben.Koisti@state.sd.us

 

Officials to Host Public Presentation on Bark Beetle Management for Forest Landowners 

 

PIERRE, S.D. - Industry officials will host a public presentation about Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) and Pine Engraver Beetle (IPS) management practices on Thursday, March 13, 2025, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm MT at the Spearfish Recreation & Aquatic Center, 122 Recreation Center, Spearfish, SD.  

 

Dr. John Ball, Forest Health Specialist with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Kurt Allen, Forest Health for the US Forest Service, will discuss when these beetles can cause tree mortality, and the proactive measures landowners should take to protect their forestlands. 

 

Mountain Pine Beetles are native insects to the Black Hills. Since the last MPB epidemic ended ten years ago, there has been limited ponderosa pine mortality caused by this bark beetle. However, recently, there has been an uptick in pine tree mortality due to MPB and IPS. The most impacted area of tree mortality is in the northern Black Hills between Spearfish and Lead. 

 

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