(WFRV) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding residents and visitors to think twice before transporting firewood this fall to help stop the spread of invasive pests and diseases.
The message comes ahead of National Firewood Month in October, as the DNR highlights the risks of moving untreated firewood. Tree-killing hitchhikers such as the spongy moth, Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, and the fungus that causes oak wilt can survive on or inside firewood.
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When untreated wood is moved away from where it was harvested, those pests and fungi can later emerge and threaten trees at the new location. This can happen whether that location is the next town over or hundreds of miles away.
The “Don’t Move Firewood” campaign encourages people to “buy local, burn local.” That means purchasing firewood where you plan to camp or using firewood offered on-site instead of bringing it from home. Campers are also urged to leave any unused firewood behind.
The same advice applies to those who use firewood to heat their homes or cabins, since moving wood long distances can put nearby trees at risk.
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Firewood that has been certified as treated by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is considered safe and legal to transport anywhere in the state.
All staffed Wisconsin state parks and forests with campgrounds sell local firewood, and private sellers often have firewood available nearby as well.
