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| Theron Jr. Black shows a small piece of mistletoe removed during the Rock Canyon Thinning project. Once thinned, tree spacing lessens the probability that the parasite will spread. |
Steve Spackman, contractor, moves through the forest in small sections, making sure he doesn’t miss any infected trees. “If we miss a little bit, then it is like a doctor that missed cancer, and you come back in two weeks and you’ve found it has spread.” |
Thinning, like fire, is a tool used by resource managers to not only eliminate parasites and keep the forest healthy, but also to create open spaces and more diversity within forested areas. Grazing cattle and dispersed recreation sites within the Rock Canyon area make it difficult to tell that the thinning has even occurred. Removing trees in this manner retains the recreation value of an area, and provides more forest openings for livestock as well as big game. Although it may take several years for some of the trees left standing to fall, wood collecting permits are encouraged for this area. |
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Thinning Removes Mistletoe
To view a short, 45 second motion video explaining mistletoe infection of trees, you can choose from two movie file sizes;
Video Viewing Instructions
Description of video clip
Steve Spackman, with Theron Jr. Black explains how thinning out larger mistletoe-infected trees, provides more growing space and nutrients for smaller, uninfected trees.
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