Region-Wide Juniper Mortality in Southeastern Utah

Juniper trees are dying in large numbers in southeastern Utah – and no one knows why. Observations of this widespread juniper mortality have also been reported in southwest Colorado, northern Arizona and Nevada. The widespread die off of these (usually-hearty) juniper trees has forest health specialists, entomologists, ecologists and others scratching their heads. A group of scientists visited Blanding, Utah in November 2018. Forest Health Protection, Flagstaff, Ogden and Gunnison field offices assessed juniper health and collected bolts of juniper to rear out wood boring / secondary insects.