• Hikers on Granite Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park/NPS photo by John Marino

    Rocky Mountain

    National Park Colorado

  • Bear Lake Road Reconstruction Project

    Major construction work on Bear Lake Road in 2012 & 2013 includes mandatory use of park shuttles May 29-Oct 9 between 9 am–4 pm, delays, and some night closures. More »

Forest Health: Science Videos

forest health also includes:

Forest Health Home Campgrounds
Mountain Pine Beetle Parkwide Efforts
News Releases Projects & Closures
Falling Trees Other Resources
 
a photo of a tree damaged by mountain pine beetle

The Mountain Pine Beetle
Why are there so many brown trees? The Mountain Pine Beetle is one of several common, native insects that challenge western pine forests. Drought conditions, mild winters, dwarf mistletoe infestations, dense late seral mature forest stands, and a lack of wildland fires have contributed to the outbreak. The scale of the current beetle epidemic is unprecedented in historic times, with millions of acres of trees being affected throughout the West from Mexico to British Columbia.

Broadband users click here. Dial-up users click here. iPod users click here. For a printable version of the script, click here.  

 
To view more science videos about Rocky Mountain National Park, click here.

Did You Know?

a graphic of the Rocky Mountain Nature Association logo, a bighorn ram

RMNA has helped Rocky complete more than 40 projects valued at $10 million since 1986. They include the McGraw Ranch, the Fall River Visitor Center, and the Storm Mountain Pass trail. More...