Question
We recently built a house on a wooded lot. We had to do some clearing. We have a pine tree on the back side of the lot away from the house that is losing it's bark. The needles have turned brown as well. How do I tell if it is dead?

Answer
If the needles are brown and the bark is sluffing off the tree is dead. If you want to wait until spring to see IF there is new growth at the ends of the branches you could BUT I would guess that there will be no growth. I would make plans to take it down.
Sorry!