The mountain pine beetle is no bigger than a thumbnail, but it can kill a tree 10 stories high. This stealthy insect is causing big problems for North American forests, and as the beetle colonizes, large swathes of trees are dying.
Thanks to this voracious bug, the U.S. rate of deforestation is staggering -- topping that of Brazil according to one study. The pine beetle is hurting Yellowstone's precious ecosystems, and even the grizzly bear is affected. The beetle has:
* Destroyed forests.
* Taken a food source from animals, including the endangered grizzly bear.
* Negatively impacted water and watersheds.
* Deteriorated the region's biodiversity.
Global warming is causing the pine beetle to thrive -- cool temperatures and harsh winters no longer keep the beetle population in check. Send a letter to your senators urging them to fight global warming and stop the invasive pine beetle from destroying any more trees.
Dear [Decision Maker],
The mountain pine beetle is no bigger than a thumbnail, but it can kill a tree 10 stories high. This little insect is causing big problem in North American forests, and has swept through our parks and colonized an area nearly the size of Sweden.
[Your comment will be inserted here]
According to a new study by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, from 2000 to 2005 the U.S. and Canada had higher percentages of deforestation than even Brazil. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the pine beetle has:
* Destroyed forests.
* Taken a food source from animals, including the endangered grizzly bear.
* Negatively impacted water and watersheds.
* Deteriorated the region's biodiversity.
Global warming is causing the pine beetle to thrive -- cool temperatures and harsh winters no longer keep the beetle population in check. The pine beetle population has ravaged forests in Canada, Colorado, and Yellowstone, one of America's oldest and most beloved wildernesses. Support a robust climate bill, to fight global warming and keep the destructive pine beetle population in balance.
