Canadian Beetles Attack Trees

Discovery Communications Inc.

The largest ever outbreak of mountain pine beetle has prompted a state of emergency in Canada's pacific province of British Columbia.

Although half of the beetles are normally killed off by winter cold, two years of mild winters have quadrupled the insects' population. Almost 3,400 workers are cutting down diseased trees and destroying them at lumber mills.

The epidemic has affected vast areas of pine trees, according to a report from the North Central Municipal Association. "Communities in affected areas join with the industry in declaring this epidemic a state of emergency," the association said.

The market value of the afflicted area is about $2.2 billion.

Pine trees account for half of the timber grown across the province's 14 million acres of forest.