Nature Notes From Crater Lake
Volume 3, No. 3, September 1930
Bugs -- Part III
By Earl U. Homuth
In 1929 a sum of approximately $17,500
was expended in the work of control. This included a deficiency
appropriation. An item of great expense was that of transportation. It
was necessary to transfer all supplies from trucks to caterpillar
tractors some twenty to thirty from the actual scene of work. This was
greatly reduced in 1930, since snow plows had been acquired and the
roads were kept clear, and supplies brought directly to the work on
trucks.
In 1929 twenty-three thousand five
hundred forty-four trees were treated. These covered an area of six
thousand fifty-five acres, or an average of approximately four trees per
acre. The work for that year covered the period from May 10 to July 8.
This in itself indicates the intensity with which the work must be
advanced. Beetles may by that date be observed in the forest, and since
the object of the process is to destroy them before they have matured in
the trees, any further work is useless.
In 1930 the appropriation was $7,500.
As mentioned, less was expended for the formidable item of
transportation. This year 9850 trees were cut over an area of four
thousand three hundred acres. This gives an average of 2.28 trees per
acre. The period of work was May 13 to July 9 when again mature beetles
were found, and the operations of necessity suspended.
An interesting fact developed when the
final figures were studied. Due to various factors, including lack of
time and funds, an area (denoted as area "N") was not treated in 1929.
In 1930 the percentage of infected trees in all areas excluding area "N"
was 26%, and these were scattered. In area "N" the percentage of
infected trees was found to be 65%. This accidental check on conditions
gives a rather encouraging indication that the work is succeeding.
The average number of trees cut by a
Falling crew per working day is 43. A competition developed between
several crews this year and individual days cuts mounted until an almost
unbelievable high record was established by one crew, of 137 trees cut
in one day. This might well be included in "Believe it or Not" by
Ripley.
National Park areas are preserved in as
far as possible in their natural conditions. An infestation of any kind
might be considered as a natural condition to be allowed to run its
course. A forest fire due to lightening is also a natural condition, yet
the argument would hardly be presented, that a forest fire due to any
cause should be allowed to destroy our forests. A tree attacked by the
mountain pine beetle in 90% of instances, is a dead tree in time.
Therefore if by destroying that tree all others may be preserved, the
effort and sums expended are justified. If by destroying thousands of
trees, all trees in this and other states are preserved, with their
scenic and commercial value considered, then the sacrifice is
unquestionably justified and the success of the method developed in
Crater Lake National Park is of importance far beyond the possibility of
calculation.