An exotic fungus spreading southward through Rocky Mountain forests is threatening Colorado’s oldest trees — the gnarled limber and bristlecone pines that can live longer than 2,000 years.
White pine blister rust fungus afflicts hundreds of those trees on national forest land and in the Great Sand Dunes and Rocky Mountain national parks.
There is no known cure for the fungus, which penetrates pine needles, then covers branches with clamshell-shaped cankers and orange pustules, eventually girdling tree trunks.
“It’s killing trees in Colorado. And it is still spreading,” said Anna Schoettle, a U.S. Forest Service scientist.
A journalist and lawyer, Bruce Finley has investigated local, national and international issues with on-site reporting in more than 40 countries. In his position as a staff writer for the Denver Post, he is focusing on environment-related news including water challenges, the oil and gas boom and wildfire.
