Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF to Spray for Bark Beetles in Recreation Areas

The Forest Service will be applying insecticides in recreation sites throughout the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest over the next few weeks.   The need for this is driven by the current mountain pine beetle epidemic, which has heavily affected many areas throughout southwest Montana and has already impacted some individual trees within popular recreation areas.

     If you’re planning your annual family outing on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, or if it’s your first venture to the 3.35 million acres of Montana woodland, you may note that many of the recreation sites will look different than seen in years past or in the pictures that may have prompted your destination.

     “Spraying will begin in June and continue through September with individual tree treatments in those places we know a large majority of Forest visitors and users will be this summer – campgrounds, day-use areas and trailheads.  Concession campgrounds on the Pintler Ranger District will be treated after Labor Day,” stated Bruce Schuelke, Reforestation Forester for the Forest.  “To be effective, we must spray the green trees before the beetles fly again in mid-summer when they’ll bore into and lay their eggs in new-found trees.”  In addition Schuelke stated, “Campground users will notice packets or a caulk-like substance known as SPLAT applied or stapled to trees.  These 2”x2” packets and SPLAT are Verbenone and/or MCH and are used to ward away bark beetles in areas that we cannot spray the Carbaryl pesticides because of being too close to water”.

     Beginning mid-June and continuing through mid-July depending upon the weather, a Forest Service workforce and contract sprayers will be placing packets, SPLAT and spraying Carbaryl to protect individual pine trees from mountain pine beetles in recreation sites on the following ranger districts of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest:

Dillon Ranger District     

(406) 683-3900

Brown’s Lake Campground**

Birch Creek Rental Cabin**

Reservoir Lake Campground & Picnic Area

Bloody Dick Rental Cabin

Sacajawea Campground & Picnic Area**

Elkhorn Campground

Crystal Park Day Use Area

Grasshopper Campground

Wisdom-Wise River Ranger Districts     (406) 832-3178 

Willow Creek Campground**

Pettengill Campground

Pintler Campground & Picnic Area**

May Creek Campground

Miner Lakes Campground

Steel Creek Campground**

Mussigbrod Campground**

Twin Lakes Campground

Van Houghton North Campground**

Van Houghton South Campground**

Madison District

(406) 682-4253

Mill Creek Campground**

Potosi Campground**

Pintler Ranger District

(406) 859-3211

Racetrack Campground**

East Fork Campground**

Copper Creek Campground**

Copper Creek Dispersed Camping**

Douglas Creek Cabin Rental**

Spring Hill Picnic Area**

Spring Hill Administrative Cabin**

Flint Creek Campground**

Moose Creek Rental Cabin**

Moose Lake Fishing Access**

Pebble Beach Fishing Access**

Stony Campground **

Stony Rental Cabin**

Anaconda Job Corps

Echo Lake Picnic Area**

Cable Creek Campground

Lodgepole Campground

Philipsburg Bay Campground

Rainbow Bay Picnic Area**

Camp Watenopa

Spillway Campground**