NM tree deaths tripled in 2025, due to intense drought and bark beetle proliferation

By: Patrick Lohmann

Outlets: Source New Mexico

Published: June 15, 2026

Words: 489

Last Updated: 1 month, 1 week ago

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Intensifying drought and above-average temperatures allowed native bark beetles to run rampant in New Mexico’s forests in 2025, resulting in a tripling of tree mortality over 2024, according to a new report from the New Mexico State Forestry division.

The report, based on aerial assessments of more than 14 million acres of forest on tribal, state, federal and private lands, found that bark beetles killed more than 200,000 acres of trees, predominately in the Gila …

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