You can help stop the spread of invasive species, Wis DNR offers tips

MADISON, Wis. (CIVIC MEDIA) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges Wisconsinites and state visitors to think twice before giving invasive species or harmful hitchhikers a ride in their firewood this fall.

Ahead of National Firewood Month in October, help the DNR prevent the spread of invasive pests by making smart firewood choices. Tree-killing hitchhikers often lurk on or inside firewood. These include the spongy moth, Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, the fungus that causes oak wilt and many other invasive insects and fungi.

Your firewood choices are important, and with good practice, you can help slow the spread of these tree-killing pests and diseases. When untreated firewood is transported away from the tree where it was harvested, those pests and fungi can later emerge to attack trees at the new location. This can happen whether that new location is in the next town or hundreds of miles away.

The Don’t Move Firewood website urges people to “buy local, burn local.” That means purchasing firewood for your camping trip on-site instead of bringing it from home or picking it up along the way. It’s also strongly recommended that campers leave any unused firewood behind. It’s not worth bringing a pest home to infest your property.

The same guidelines apply to those who use wood to heat their cabin or home. Closer is better. You don’t want to put the trees on your property at risk from hitchhiking insects or fungi.

However, firewood that has been treatment-certified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is safe and legal to take anywhere in the state.

All staffed state parks and forests with campgrounds offer local firewood for sale, and firewood is often available for purchase privately nearby. To find local firewood sellers and vendors of certified firewood, visit the Firewood Scout website.

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