Jaeger said on Friday that the long-term fight against pine beetles will have to include thinning, regular timber sales, and prescribed fire, conducted according to a long-term strategy.

Jaeger says thinning works, but it can't be a one-time operation.

Jaeger says, "But trying to look this as a holistic approach and come together with other conservation leaders throughout the area of the Black Hills here; to have a unified approach and a strategy on how we're going after this thing."

Jaeger says trends indicate beetle infestations are on the rise once again after a downward trend from 2006 to 2009.

-Al Van Zee