What killed the trees? The balsam wooly adelgid, a pinhead-size insect native to Europe, is responsible. It began attacking the Fraser fir forests here in the 1970s. The red spruce, unaffected by the adelgid, survives in the midst of this devastated forest.

Airborne pollutants that change the chemical composition of fog, rain, and snow also might contribute to forest decline. Studies suggest these pollutants combine with moisture in the air to form "acid precipitation," one of the factors suspected of slowing the growth of trees and making them more vulnerable to disease and insect damage.

Scientists are seeking ways to reverse this forest decline. Meanwhile it is possible that future generations of Fraser firs will develop their own defense against these destructive influences.

[ Sidebar : ]
The adelgid usually selects a 15 to 20-year-old tree as a host. It feeds by inserting a slender mouthpart through the tree's bark. This feeding causes cellular changes in the tree that block the tree's ability to transport life-sustaining fluids.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Canton, NC  |  Jackson County  |  28716  |  North Carolina  |  United States of America

Highest Elevation on Blue Ridge Parkway
North Carolina Confederate Veterans Memorial Forest
Devil's Courthouse
Restoring A Forest
Looking Glass Rock
Rutherford's Expedition
Rutherford Trace
Rutherford Trace
Forestry School
Rock House Creek Lodge

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.