here. - Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

ca r I B o o re g I o n Su M M a r Y
The Cariboo portion of the aerial overview surveys was conducted between July 24 th and August 14 th , and required
30 flights and 142.1 hours of flight time. Conditions for the surveys were variable, however surveyors
were able to work around poor weather due to successful pre-planning. The surveys covered the entire Cariboo
Region (Quesnel, Williams Lake, and 100 Mile House TSAs) as well as the Robson Valley TSA and small portions
of the Prince George, Lakes, Mid-Coast, Kingcome, and Sunshine Coast TSAs. One crew comprised of
Don Wright and Mel Dodge surveyed the east half of the Region, while a second crew comprised of Joe Cortese
and Bob Erickson surveyed the west half of the Region. Aircraft were chartered from White Saddle Air Services,
Lawrence Aviation, Cariboo Air, and Lakes District Air Service, and utilized Cessna 180, 185, and 206 aircraft,
both on and off floats.
Qu e S n e l tSa
Bark Beetles
Western balsam bark beetle populations appear to be increasing in the TSA, with the affected area and attack
intensity up from 2011 levels. A total of 19,635 hectares were affected, nearly 90% of which was classified as
light attack; in 2011, only 1% of the affected area was classified as light attack.
An increase in Douglas-fir beetle attack was seen in the Victoria Creek, Swift River, and Ahbau Lake areas. A
few scattered infestations were also detected near Beavermouth, Hill Lake, Deserters Creek, and Nazko. In total,
1,570 hectares, and 80 spot infestations, were mapped.
Spruce beetle populations remained relatively low. Light attack was detected on 1,110 hectares on TFL #52,
near Barkerville and Coldspring House.
Mountain pine beetle was essentially absent from the TSA, with only 10 hectares of light attack in the Baezaeko
River area.
Defoliators
Two-year cycle budworm damage has declined slightly from the last “on” year, from 46,845 hectares in 2010,
to 32,060 hectares in 2012. Affected stands were all east of Quesnel, on and around TFL #52. A trial evaluating
the efficacy of aerially-applied B.t.k. (Foray 48B) was conducted near Mount Tom. Three blocks covering nearly
900 hectares were treated. Results are discussed in the Special Projects section of this report.
As expected, western spruce budworm populations declined sharply in 2012. Defoliated area fell by over 95%,
to just 830 hectares. Damage levels are expected to remain low in 2013, with all eleven eggmass sampling sites
predicting very low population levels.
Area defoliated by forest tent caterpillar declined by nearly 80%, to 9,210 hectares. Damage intensity was also
down, with the proportion of defoliation classed as moderate or severe declining from nearly 50% in 2011, to 12%
in 2012. This downward trend was expected, based on ground checks conducted in 2011, which indicated that
populations were declining. Most of the 2012 defoliation occurred in the 300 Road and 500 Road area. Many of
the stands affected recently have also been affected by a combination of other pests such as aspen serpentine leaf
miner and Venturia twig blight. This combination has led to dead tops and branch tips in several areas.
Aspen serpentine leaf miner damage increased from 3,315 hectares in 2011, to 10,155 hectares in 2012. Most
defoliation was in the Umiti Creek, Ahbau Lake, Bowron Lake, and Sardine Creek areas.
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Kamloops, B.C.
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