Tom Wiens, Certified Arborist, says 80 to 90 percent of Scotch and Ponderosa pines that have been attacked by Mountain Pine Beetles can survive. Wiens was in the Kimball area on Sept. 30 inspecting the attack of Mountain Pine Beetle in the Kimball area. He said many of the trees showing pitch tube evidence of the beetle borings have successfully resisted the attack and will survive.According to Wiens, the area is over planted with evergreen trees.  Forty or so years ago it was thought evergreens had no problems so plenty were planted.Wiens says diversification of forest trees is one of the best ways to insure survival of a stand of trees. He says each insect type has a favorite food and when given the opportunity, the insect  type will attack their favorite variety of food tree only.Witness the Dutch Elm Disease carried by the Elm Bark Beetle of the 1950s and 1960s which wiped out most of the American Elm population of the country. A bark fungus attacked the American Chestnut tree population and virtually eliminated it from the eastern U. S by 1940. The Emerald Ash Borer has recently killed untold millions of ash trees in the Great Lakes states.Wiens alleges that these insects and fungi have specific varieties of trees they attack. They do not harm other varieties of trees.Wiens makes  the point: When planting trees, plant a wide variety. If one variety of tree is attacked, the other varieties survive. He claims the Panhandle has an unhealthy preponderance of evergreen plantings and not enough deciduous trees.Wiens recommends planting half deciduous trees and half evergreens. And follow good soil preparation and planting practices. He says most trees planted in the city are planted too deep and are all too often root bound when planted.He says trees in the Panhandle need at least 10 inches of moisture a year. He recommends watering in the winter whenever the daytime temperature is in the 50 to 60 degree Fahrenheit range. Wiens says yearly spraying of Scotch and Ponderosa trees can be effective in stopping Mountain Pine Beetle attack. Effective sprays are available that do not damage other creatures or the environment.Wiens has several certifications as an arborist and is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture as well as a member of the Audubon Society and Sierra Club.He lives in the Bayard area and has an arboriculture practice.