"The mountain pine beetle is no longer a problem limited to British Columbia’s deepest back-country forests and wilderness areas. More and more infestations are turning up on private property, even in and around urban areas. Although not guaranteed to prevent the insect invaders from gaining ground, there are a number of small steps private landowners can take to help alleviate the potential for a beetle infestation on their property."

Keep your trees healthy with fertilizer. Fertilization is an exact science, and it is recommended to consult a professional. Improper fertilization may actually encourage infestation, for example the overuse of Nitrogen can be attractive for many pests.

Irrigate your tree to aid in the resistance of the beetle. Do not over water; too much water may encourage root rot. Allow the ground to dry between consecutive watering. A rough guideline would be, for example, a half an hour of water per week for a 2 ft diameter pine tree

Look for the pine beetle. Early detection, during the May to October flight season is key.

Look for holes and frass created by the beetles drilling into the bark, pitch tubes, increased woodpecker activity, or discoloured needles.

Peel away bark to expose larvae galleries and beetles. It is advisable to consult a professional before doing this. Chopping through the bark haphazardly may damage the tree.

If infested, log the trees. Mill, debark, or spray before the beetle flight season begins. If debarked, the bark should be sprayed, burned, buried, or submerged under water (where environmentally safe). Do not submerge trees that have been treated with Sevin.

Infested logs can also be buried under the ground until after the flight season, and then used.

Fall and burn beetle-infested trees on site. Do this only in winter, to reduce the risk of starting forest fires. Remember to obtain all necessary burning permits.

Spray trees (standing or fallen) from March till October (there is a residual action on Sevin for up to two years in ideal conditions) with a five percent solution of Sevin, a registered insecticide for topical treatment. If your trees are not attacked, you can defend. Emerging beetles will die when they ingest the treated bark. Spray until the trunk is dripping. Follow label directions exactly.

Landowners can only apply Sevin or other pesticides on private property, (but must have applicators certificate to purchase Sevin or other chemicals), and not on public land. A Sevin spray will provide defense against pine beetle infestation provided that it is applied pre-infestation. Post infestation spraying will decrease the spread of the beetle by killing the emerging beetles the following flight season.

It's always a good idea to contact your local district or regional office to enquire about applications or permits required for performing these and other beetle management activities.

For more information on what you can do, visit these Government of BC links
Facts on the mountain pine beetle - (Government of BC website)