ASPEN, COLO. -- The U.S. Forest Service says fire crews will be removing dead and dying trees that have been infested by bark beetles near Aspen.
Firefighters are set to begin cutting down the trees Monday and will continue to do so throughout next week.
Trails in the Hunter Creek Valley and nearby will be closed during the work.
The trees are being removed because they are at risk of falling after being weakened by bark beetles.
The bark beetle epidemic has spread to more than 3,000 square miles in the state since 1996.
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