Clive: Definitely.
I see a direct correlation between the die-off and my own fuel bill here in Toronto which is in the overlapping boundary between the Carolinian forest (which is the same forest noted and pictured in the New England area in the article) and the Laurentian forest.
Although, the phenomenon is somewhat lessened as we go further north out of the boundary area and deeper into the Laurentian forest.
Although the heating season starts earlier further north, the population density is also considerably lower than in Toronto.
But perhaps it could simply be that the Laurentian forest is a hardier ecosystem.
Observational data is scarcer outside of the Greater Toronto area. It is generally conceded that everything important in Canada can be seen from the top of the CN Tower.