UW Photo Exhibition: The Pine Beetle Epidemic

If you have driven around the state of Wyoming lately it is hard to miss the great expanses of forest that were once lush and green that have been turned to a sea of brown. The pine bark beetle infestation has has truely changed the countryside for the foreseeable future. The Laramie area is certainly no exception as many of the trees are now being logged to avoid disastrous forest fires that many arise from the plethora of dead trees that are prime kindling for the taking.

The USDA Forest Service estimates more than 3.6 million acres in Colorado and southeastern Wyoming are dramatically harmed by the mountain pine beetle outbreak. Although the beetles get blamed for killing the trees, it's actually the blue stain fungus introduced by the beetles that is fatal. The death of entire hillsides and landscapes of mature trees has implications for hydrology, carbon sequestration, safety and local economies and diminishes the forest aesthetics.

King graduated from UW's American Studies Program in 2009. He became interested in the mountain pine beetle epidemic while manning the Centennial Visitor Center in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. He now teaches English language learner students in Rock Springs.

The collection can be seen through early next year on the first floor of the new Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center. The Berry Center is located east of the Bureau of Mines building and west of the Geology building.

Visit www.uwyo.edu/berrycenter for more information.