Logging starts on dying trees hit by moth outbreak in Idaho forests

BOISE, Idaho (CBS 2) — Logging has started on the dead and dying trees hit by the tussock moth outbreak in Idaho forests.

The Idaho Department of Lands sold nearly 2,000 acres of dead and dying timber as part of two salvage sales.

The tree harvest reduces fire risk, addresses safety concerns to the recreating public, and clears the way to plant trees that are less preferred by tussock moth.

The salvage sales also generate money to help fund public schools in Idaho and other beneficiaries to endowment lands.

It is not unusual to have a tussock moth outbreak every ten years or so, and often trees can recover. However, this infestation combined with several years of western spruce budworm defoliation and drought conditions in 2018, has resulted in extensive mortality.

The dead and dying trees pose a significant fire danger especially to those who live or recreate near the affected area. There is also the danger of the dead and dying trees falling, creating further risk for the recreating public.

The Hidden Scriver Salvage loaded logging trucks traveling north through Smiths Ferry on Idaho 55 through Cascade, McCall, then arriving at mills in Grangeville and New Meadows.

Logging will start in the Center Howell Salvage area in a few weeks. Those trucks will be traveling south on Idaho 55 into Horseshoe Bend, then turning onto Idaho 52 to reach a mill in Emmett.

All merchantable damaged trees within the salvage sale areas will be harvested except for ponderosa pine and spruce trees, which are not commonly damaged by tussock moth. Those species make up a small percentage of trees within the harvest areas.

After salvage, the areas will be planted with a variety of tree species to make the forest less susceptible to this type of danger.

“Leaving the dead trees standing there, they will decompose, fall over roads, and present other safety hazards,” said Carol Ross, a Forest Service representative for the Boise National Forest. “We are mitigating those future hazards now, and recovering some of the timber value at the same time.”

The U.S. Forest Service does want to remind forest visitors not to touch or pick the tussock moths up.

The moth’s tree-damaging caterpillar has long bristly hairs that may cause allergic-like reactions for some individuals. A rash called tussockosis can persist from a few hours to several weeks.