--- title: Removing Dead Pines After Bark Beetles url: https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/removing-dead-pines-bark-beetles/ business: Battle Born Tree Service address: 6301 US Highway 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701 phone: 775.232.8243 hours: Office Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm; phones answered seven days a week; 24-hour emergency service credentials: ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A on staff; Nevada Business License # 20131580674; fully insured type: Tree service (removal, crane work, pruning, stump grinding, defensible space, snow removal, firewood) --- - [Home](https://battleborntreeservice.com/) - [The Field Guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/) - Removing dead pines after bark beetles # Should you remove dead pines after bark beetles? Usually yes: dead pines are brittle, can drop limbs or fall, and removing infested trees can reduce the number of trees attacked in the surrounding area the next year. A certified arborist can confirm the cause and decide whether the tree should come down. Key takeaways - Crowns of attacked trees fade from green to yellow to reddish-brown, usually after the beetles have left. - Large, reddish pitch tubes on the bark mark where beetles attacked. - The Forest Service says removing infested trees can reduce attacks the following year. - Infested trees can be cut and burned or chipped to kill beetles, per the Forest Service. - At Tahoe, a dead conifer that could fall on a house needs no TRPA permit. Pines in the Sierra foothills and at Tahoe have been hit by bark beetles, and many homeowners see a tree turn yellow and then red-brown. The U.S. Forest Service and the Nevada Division of Forestry have written about what is happening. This guide covers what they say, in plain terms. ## What are the signs of a bark beetle attack? The Forest Service's leaflet on the Jeffrey pine beetle says attacked trees are not usually detected until the crown fades from green to yellow to reddish-brown. Trees attacked early in summer may start to fade in late fall of the same year, and trees attacked later in the summer typically do not fade until late spring or early summer of the next year. Trees killed by the Jeffrey pine beetle usually fade evenly throughout the crown. Large, reddish pitch tubes on the bark surface mark the points of attack and can be found long before crown fading. Successful attacks show pink to dark-reddish pitch tubes containing boring dust and frass. By the time the crown is red-brown, the offspring beetles have likely already left the tree. ## What is happening in Nevada The 2023 Nevada Forest Health Highlights, from the Forest Service and the Nevada Division of Forestry, list fir engraver, mountain pine beetle, subalpine fir decline, pinyon ips and Jeffrey pine beetle among the top damage agents in the state. It describes bark beetle sanitation efforts in the Western Region, including a project at Mt. Rose Ski Resort where 107 beetle-infested trees on a 40-acre area were marked, cut and chipped in fall 2023. See our [bark beetles in pines](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-guide/bark-beetles-in-pines/) page. ## Why removal is common advice The Forest Service leaflet says removing infested trees can reduce the number of trees infested in the immediate surrounding area the following year. It cites removal projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin and elsewhere in the 1980s and 1990s where subsequent tree mortality was reduced when trees were removed before beetle emergence. If removal is not possible, the leaflet says infested trees may be cut and burned or chipped to kill beetles. A dead pine is also brittle, and a dead tree near a house is a hazard apart from the beetles. Dead branches and tops can fall in wind or snow. ## Do you need a permit to remove a dead pine at Tahoe? TRPA says no permit is needed to remove a dead tree that could fall on a house. A conifer counts as dead if it has no green needles. For a dead tree away from a house, contact a TRPA forester to ask whether a permit is required. A live tree over 14 inches DBH needs a permit, so a tree that is only partly affected may still be a permit case. See the [Tahoe permit guide](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tahoe-tree-removal-permits-dbh/). ## Wood from beetle-killed pines Treat the wood carefully. Do not move it to a new area, and buy and burn firewood locally. If chips are made, see [what happens to the wood and chips](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/what-happens-to-wood-and-chips/) and [Nevada firewood rules](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/dont-move-firewood-nevada/). Battle Born does not offer spraying or pest treatment; the Forest Service leaflet discusses insecticide options, and the Extension office and licensed applicators are the contacts for those. ## Getting an assessment A pine can turn color for other reasons, including drought and root problems, so a certified arborist should look. We do not diagnose from a photo and never tell a reader a tree is safe. Battle Born Tree Service has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. Large pines near homes can be removed with a crane or boom truck; see [crane vs climbing vs bucket truck](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/crane-vs-climbing-vs-bucket-truck/). If a tree is on a house or a line, call 911 if anyone is hurt, stay away from lines and call NV Energy, then call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) for our 24-hour emergency service. ### Sources - [USDA Forest Service, Forest Insect and Disease Leaflet 11: Jeffrey Pine Beetle](https://www.fs.usda.gov/foresthealth/docs/fidls/FIDL-11-JeffreyPineBeetle.pdf) (read October 17, 2026) - [Nevada Forest Health Highlights 2023 (USDA Forest Service and Nevada Division of Forestry)](https://www.fs.usda.gov/foresthealth/docs/fhh/NV_FHH_2023.pdf) (read October 17, 2026) - [Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: Trees and Defensible Space](https://www.trpa.gov/trees-and-defensible-space/) (read October 17, 2026) ### Talk to the office [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243) | Monday to Friday | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm | |---|---| | Saturday and Sunday | Office closed, phones answered | Phones answered seven days a week. 24-hour emergency service. [Free estimate](#quote) ### Keep reading - [Bark beetles in pines](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-guide/bark-beetles-in-pines/) - [Jeffrey pine](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-guide/jeffrey-pine/) - [Fir engraver beetle](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-guide/fir-engraver/) - [Tahoe tree removal permits: the 14-inch rule and how to measure DBH](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/tahoe-tree-removal-permits-dbh/) - [How to tell if a tree is dead or dying](https://battleborntreeservice.com/guides/is-my-tree-dead-or-dying/) - [Large tree removal](https://battleborntreeservice.com/tree-services/large-tree-removal/) ### Terms on this page [Arborist](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/arborist/) [Pitch tubes](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/pitch-tubes/) [TRPA (Tahoe Regional Planning Agency)](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/trpa/) [Frass](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/frass/) [DBH (diameter at breast height)](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/dbh/) [The full glossary](https://battleborntreeservice.com/glossary/) ## More from the blog Pruning and care October 17, 2026 5 min read ### What should you do with your trees in October in Carson City and Reno? In October, finish watering while the ground is open, look over your trees for dead or hanging limbs, and clear leaves and needles away from the house. Save most live-wood pruning for the dormant seas Pruning and care October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Young trees in new subdivisions: the first ten years A young tree in a new subdivision needs very little pruning in its first two or three years, then steady structural pruning to build one strong central trunk and well-spaced branches. The ISA says tre Removal and equipment October 17, 2026 6 min read ### Where tree debris and green waste go in Reno and Carson City Green waste has a few legitimate homes in our area: the landfill or transfer station if the load is only wood and green waste, a fire district drop-off day or curbside chipping program if you qualify, [All posts](https://battleborntreeservice.com/blog/) ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call [775.232.8243](tel:775.232.8243). Phones are answered seven days a week. ### How can I tell if a pine was killed by bark beetles? Look for large reddish pitch tubes on the bark and a crown that has faded from green to yellow to reddish-brown. An arborist can confirm. ### Should I cut down a beetle-killed pine? The Forest Service says removal can reduce infestation of nearby trees the following year. A dead pine can also drop limbs, so most owners remove it. An arborist can advise. ### Do I need a TRPA permit for a dead pine? A dead tree that could fall on a house needs no TRPA permit. For other dead trees, ask a TRPA forester. ### Can I use the firewood from a beetle-killed tree? Keep it local and do not move it to new areas. The Forest Service says infested trees can also be chipped or burned.