The Bonner Milltown area is a collection of neighborhoods, old and new. The cleanup, restoration, and redevelopment of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers and their confluence and the shut down and subsequent sale of the mill has brought unprecedented change to this once stable community in the span of a decade. Change can be unsettling, but it offers tremendous potential as well. These stories chronicle events as they are unfolding.
Beetle Report: After Verbenone Use
Written by Gary Matson
We’ve found no evidence of fresh infestation among our Ponderosa Pine growing where neighboring trees were killed last year by mountain pine beetles. The combination of cutting and peeling dying, infested “brood” trees and using Verbenone hormonal beetle repellant seems to have worked in this small area of less than 1 acre.
There are fresh infestations among trees about 300 yards above the treated area. Two trees inside a circle of beetle killed Ponderosa are loaded with pitch tubes. I’ll cut and peel these brood trees next year, and perhaps limit further spread.
A dead Ponerosa among healthy trees
A fresh pitch tube on a newly infected tree.
Car Show to Benefit Bonner Students
General
Written by Judy Matson
Verbenone patches used to foil beetles
Sustainability
Written by Gary Matson
Gary put the hormone-based beetle repellant "Verbenone" on the ponderosa pine trees near the home he and Judy share in West Riverside. The repellant is an "anti-aggregaton" hormone, produced naturally by mountain pine beetles when their number on an individual tree has reached "capacity". It discourages other beetles from infesting the same tree.
Having recently celebrated Independence Day and the events that brought about the birth of our nation, let us continue to reflect upon the true meaning of patriotism and the responsibility that citizenship entails. The United States of America—and the planet—is facing an unprecedented crisis of a magnitude that would be unimaginable to the Founding Fathers.
Jamie Jonkel, Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bear Biologist, reminds residents that bears are active in all neighborhoods along the edge of the mountains and along the rivers.
Please remove access to garbage cans and bird feeders. Report bear problems at 542-5500. FWP will not set traps where bird feeders and garbage can be accessed by bears.
