More rain arrived in Northern California this year, which is good news overall. Yet, more bad news is lurking in the forest: Bark beetles.

In fact, those bark beetles are lurking in backyards throughout Butte County. Trees were under stress the past few years due to lack of water. Bark beetles have an easier time attacking trees when the forest is in poor health. The adult insects work their way under the outer protective bark, feed on the soft inner bark, and lay eggs for the next generation.