GOVERNMENT CAMP, Ore. -- On the east side of Mount Hood, a team of entomologists and foresters studying damage caused by insects said they've killed more than 150,000 acres of trees.

“It’s a sizable portion,” said Nancy Lankford, a forest silviculturist.

Entomologist Bruce Hostetler said a bundle of insects called the Mountain Pine Beetle, could be to blame.

“The female builds what’s called an egg gallery and she lays eggs and the larva burrows out from there,” said Hostetler. In turn, the tree is killed.

According to Lankford, dead, dry brush can be a fuel for a wildfire similar to the one burning at neighboring Mount Adams.

“Those obviously have an impact on the homes in the forested area, to water sheds for cities, to the high recreation use we get on Mount Hood,” said Lankford.

To counter the problem, crews work on salvage operations around the forest, knocking down and hauling away dead and unhealthy trees.

“The purpose is to reduce the hazardous fuels and it gives us the opportunity to come in and plant a variety of species,” explained Lankford. Foresters hope it will keep the Mount Hood National Forest from suffering a similar fate to that of Mount Adams.