Western forests have been under attack from several species of bark beetle. When one tree is attacked, it chemically sends a warning to others in the vicinity to bolster defenses. Douglas firs direct an artillary of pitch to actually push the invading beetle right back out of the hole, sealing it AND applying a fungicide to kill fungus the beetle carries.

The Douglas fir is the most valuable timber tree in America, and the second tallest of all trees, only surpassed by the coast redwood. Tallest known and measured Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, is 348 feet tall.