What is to be Done?

What can anyone do to stop these proliferating populations? Is it possible to slow their regeneration?

A key factor in this battle is the proactive anticipation of the expanding invasions. Forest thinning (Mitchell 1983), chemical treatments (including pheromone use) (McCambridge 1982), and harvesting of infected trees are all viable options. Multiple policies have already been put in to place in Canada and various forests in the Northwest Region of the US, but it is important to continue policy implementation (Dekker-Robertson).

Without continued aggressive suppression, the warming global climate will facilitate the populations to explode once more to wreak further forest devastation. Reintroducing small scale wildfires to the landscape as a positive natural disturbance is a way to plan for long term beetle reduction.

But what does the future look like if we cannot suppress this ordeal? How far will it spread and could eastern forests become the Mountain Pine Beetle's next meal? The threat is logical and real.