The United States Forest Service says that contractors will be at sites across Colorado's Pike National Forest to conduct spraying efforts to limit the impact of the mountain pine beetle.The mountain pine beetle is a bark-eater that, while native to the northwestern United States, can be devastating to pine trees in our area, compounding fire danger and habitat loss across the state.News5 previously reported in April 2025 that the population of these nuisance species was rising again. Factors such as a lack of water and nutrients for trees lead to weaker forests and often an increase in beetle populations. Watch a resurgence of the Mountain Pine Beetle could mean more wildfire riskTreatment will begin at the earliest on Monday at 17 different forest recreation sites across the Pike National Forest. Crews expect to be finished by April 23.Many of the sites being targeted are camping areas that the USFS says are currently closed. Sprayers, under the supervision of USFS, staff will be spraying specific trees with carbaryl, a broad-spectrum insecticide.The following sites are being sprayed according to a USFS release:Pikes Peak Ranger District Colorado Campground Painted Rocks Campground Red Rocks Campground South Meadows Campground Springdale Campground Manitou Lake Day Use AreaSouth Park Ranger District Round Mountain Campground Pulver Mountain Group CampgroundSouth Platte Ranger District Buffalo Campground Kelsey Campground Meadows Group Campground Buffalo Trailhead Shinglemill Trailhead Little Scraggy Trailhead Rampart Range Road dispersed campsites Rampart Range Road trailheads and Enduro Skills Training AreaOther Manitou Experimental Forest_______Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5, download and start watching. ...read more read less