COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – Nearly 5,000 acres of conifer trees around Cheyenne Mountain have turned brown in the past few weeks.
An infestation of Douglas-Fir Tussock Moths and Western Spruce Budworms is to blame. Their larvae have been eating needles off the trees, leaving many nearly bare.
The trees can survive being stripped for one or two years, but if it continues longer, the trees will likely die.
There is discussion under way to decide if the outbreak area should be sprayed to kill the bugs.
