SAFFORD — The U.S. Forest Service announced it taking steps to address a moth outbreak on Mount Graham.
In the summer of 2022, the Douglas-fir tussock moth was discovered along Swift Trail Highway, from Turkey Flat to Lady Bug Peak. The moth caused severe defoliation of Douglas-fir and white fir trees, which leaves the trees susceptible to bark beetles.
To protect the Douglas-fir trees, the Safford Ranger District is spending May placing pheromone packets on the trees to keep bark beetles from attacking.
The protection is limited to Douglas-fir trees, as there is nothing available to prevent the bark beetle from devouring white fir trees.
The pheromone packet is non-toxic for the environment or animals, and visitors to Mount Graham are asked to not touch the packets.
