This killed many trees that were unable to be salvaged, and may have informed the decision to clearcut the future Bowron River outbreak.
All known outbreaks of spruce bark beetle have accumulated in woody debris caused by logging or windthrow.
[3] The forest composition of the region was typically interior spruce (Picea glauca x engelmanni) and spruce-balsam (Abies lasiocarpa).
[4] In October 1975, strong winds damaged many spruce trees in the Bowron River valley and caused a buildup of debris.
A series of mild winters with significant snow accumulation, followed by early springs, created ideal conditions for one-year life cycle spruce beetles.
[6] The amount of wood harvested, about 15 million cubic meters, was enough to build approximately 900,000 1,200 square-foot-sized houses.
750 truckloads of wood would leave the Bowron a day to bring the timber to Prince George.