[forester]

So is it really that these trees are just dieing of old age? (The beatles only can thrive in weak trees?)

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Yes. The beatles start in old and weak trees, and are able to kill them first. Then the population increases to the point that the beatles reach epidemic numbers. Couple an epidemic with a drought and the fact that the majority of the States trees are old, and one gets a situation that is happening in Colorado.

[george76]

Trees in trouble

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1874268/posts

Lots of logs, not enough loggers

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1922413/posts

Crisis on our National Forests: Reducing the Threat of Catastrophic Wildfire

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1008628/posts?page=91

Vail creating barrier against fire

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1887826/posts

CA: Inland forest a tinderbox despite tree thinning (drought and bark beetles ‘raise the stakes’)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1728582/posts