Forest May Cut Down Beetle-Infested Trees

Woodboring beetles have killed more than 5,000 trees every year on public land in Cassia County since 1989, say Sawtooth National Forest officials.

They want to hear from the public on a logging plan to impede what they call an unhealthy deterioration rate of trees. Aided by years of dry weather, the beetles have ravaged the area’s Douglas-fir, western balsam and mountain pine trees.

The Sawtooth Forest is proposing to log dead and dying trees, as well as live trees in dense stands, Burley District Ranger Pete Peterson said.

Any public comments are requested in writing by Dec. 31.