About the Forest Pest Management Program
The Forest Pest Management Program assists landowners and resource managers in identifying and managing forest insects and diseases on their forested properties. We also work to prevent and control non-native invasive insects and diseases that threaten Montana’s forests.
What We Do
Consultations
DNRC Service Foresters, located statewide, provide consultations to private forest landowners. They are knowledgeable about forest pests and provide appropriate recommendations on prevention and mitigation practices.
Education
We provide a variety of trainings, workshops, and public presentations designed to meet the needs of diverse audiences. We also offer free educational resources and publications online.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Thursday, October 15th
10-11:30am
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive woodboring beetle that causes mortality in ash. Although not yet detected in Montana, this devastating pest is at our doorstep. In this webinar, attendees will learn how to identify and report suspected EAB, how this pest will impact Montana's ash draws and street trees, and what proactive management techniques can be implemented to mitigate these impacts. Whether you’re a homeowner, city official, arborist, or forester, you can do your part to protect Montana ash trees from this invasive pest!
Hosted by the Montana Invasive Species Council (MISC).
Collaboration
The Forest Pest Management Program collaborates with other state and federal agencies to conduct trapping, sampling, site visits, aerial detection, and ground surveys. Findings are summarized in the annual Forest Health Highlights, which inform management practices amongst interagency partners and enables rapid response to outbreaks. We also administer Western Bark Beetle Initiative Grants, which support thinning projects on non-federal public lands in order to promote resiliency to bark beetle outbreaks.
Forest Health Highlights: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Forest Pest Management Program Highlight
White Pine Blister Rust Impact Study | Fall 2024
DNRC forest pest specialists are studying the impacts of white pine blister rust on limber pine on the Rocky Mountain Front along with the U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy. In 2024, specialists remeasured plots near Choteau that were installed in 2017 and collected data for an interagency impact study on the disease. The study will help DNRC and its partners determine the status of limber pine and better understand the timeline of decline.
Contact the Forest Pest Management Program
The Forest Pest Management Program supports service foresters throughout Montana. Contact your local service forester for questions regarding insects and diseases in your area.
2705 Spurgin Rd Missoula, MT 59804