CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — An aerial survey shows that the mountain pine beetle epidemic declined across Wyoming's forests last year except for the Black Hills area in the northeast part of the state

The U.S. Forest Service and Wyoming State Forestry Division announced the results of the survey this week.

Statewide the number of new acres with mountain pine beetle declined from 719,000 in 2011 to 180,000 acres in 2012.

The total footprint of the outbreak in Wyoming is now 3.4 million acres since 1996. In 2011, the total acreage for the epidemic was 3.3 million acres.

In addition, spruce beetle activity has declined from 76,000 acres in 2011 to 32,000 acres in 2012 statewide. Since 1996, 558,000 acres have been affected by spruce beetle statewide.

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