LOS ANGELES — Roughly 36.3 million dead trees were counted across California last year, a dramatic increase from previous years that experts are blaming on drought, insects and disease, according to a report by the U.S. Forest Service.
The same survey last year counted 9.5 million dead trees in the state, but the effects of the dramatic tree die off this year are more severe and spread across a wider range, according to the report released Tuesday.
The aerial report paints a bleak picture of a state ravaged by drought, disease and insects that feed and nest in thirsty trees. From mid-July to early October, researchers surveyed nearly 40 million acres including federal, state and private land. They found dead trees spread across 2.6 million acres.
