Brian Brademeyer posted a blog post

The mountain pine beetle (MPB) outbreak in the Central Black Hills has essentially stopped on the north side of the Preserve.  Vigorous regeneration can be seen in the photo below.This can be compared to photos from last year, when green once again became the dominant color in the northwestern parts of the Preserve.  Some of the best regeneration in 2012 was shown in the photo below.With the opening of the canopy, the sunlight reaching the forest floor is greatly increased.  Snag habitat is also now plentiful, with many beetle-killed trees breaking off at 20-30 feet above ground level.  In sheltered areas the entire dead tree is often left intact, and these standing dead trees (photo below from 2012) will provide critical habitat for decades for snag-dependent species and cavity-nesting birds and small mammals.Additional photos from the Lost Cabin Trail can be seen here for 2011, here for 2012, and here for 2013; these are best viewed using the View Slideshow option. Outside the Norbeck PreserveNow, the beetle outbreak is expanding rapidly in the Spring Creek drainage to the northwest, outside the Preserve, as shown in the photos below.  These photos were taken from the last ridge within the Norbeck Preserve on the northwest boundary along Palmer Creek.  July 23, 2010 July 23, 2011July 23, 2012July 23, 2013See More