When we travelled Alaska in August, every tour guide, bus driver and lodge desk manager told us the cause of the forests full of brown & dying spruce trees. It seemed a serious problem and it was called the spruce beetle. The spruce beetle is native to Alaska and the only way to keep it under control is 10 consecutive days of -40 degrees.
I’m happy to relate that it looks like the Fairbanks region will “enjoy” -40 degree temps over the next few days.
One of the natives we met was a school teacher. She said this time of year, they have recess under the street lights, They only have about 5 hours of sunlight this time of year.