Your firewood may be overrun by invasive insects – experts reveal tips for preventing severe infestation

Crackling fires have long been a gathering place where idyllic chestnuts are roasted, stories are shared and souls are warmed, whether around a hearth or at a campsite.

Some people cut their wood and let it taste, but most people buy their wood without giving much thought to where it came from.

As it happens, it matters a lot where the firewood comes from.

The US National Park Service recommends obtaining firewood within 10 (and never more than 50) miles of its destination. Transporting it over longer distances—from your home to a campsite or from a farm to your home, for example—significantly increases the chances of introducing invasive pests into the local ecosystem.

And these pests can cause devastating damage to local forests.

In my upstate New York region, for example, pests such as the Asian longhorned beetle, ash emerald, spotted lanternfly, and oak blight are major concerns. Moving untreated firewood from my town to your town can make our problem your problem.

To help prevent this, many states have passed laws against moving untreated wood more than 50 miles from where it was cut or across state lines unless the package bears a state or federal stamp or seal that proves it has been treated. with heat to kill pests. .

Even seasoned wood can harbor pests, which are often hidden in layers under the bark, where they are hard to spot. While these pests cannot travel far on their own, getting high on firewood can enable them to start a new infestation in a distant location.

This is not speculation. Past invaders have already destroyed native species such as American chestnut, hemlock, and American elm.

Additionally, buying local firewood can help protect your garden and your wallet. Infested or diseased trees can have a negative effect on property values. They are also expensive to remove. Plus, no one wants to see the landscape they’ve worked so hard to create fall victim to hitchhiking pests.

The Don’t Move Firewood campaign, an on-the-ground partnership managed by The Nature Conservancy, aims to protect North America’s trees and forests from invasive insects and diseases that can travel with firewood. You can do your part by simply making informed choices.

Tips from the Don’t Move Firewood campaign to help keep trees safe

• Get firewood close to home. The best rule of thumb is to buy it within the same county, or no more than 50 miles from where you will burn it. Consult the campaign’s firewood map for your state’s regulations.
• Don’t be fooled by “clean” firewood. Just because it looks healthy doesn’t mean it’s pest-free. Tiny eggs or spores of the fungus can be hidden inside the wood, ready to start a deadly infection when they are transported to a new location. Don’t bring firewood into the backyard, even if it looks okay.
• Aged or seasoned wood is not safe. Even if he has been sitting for a while, his movement is still dangerous.
• If you moved firewood, burn it soon. If you have already transported firewood, dispose of it safely by burning it completely and thoroughly. Clean up the area afterwards, then burn the debris. In the future, buy only from local suppliers.
• Spread the word. Tell your friends about the dangers of moving firewood—no one wants to be the one unknowingly distributing invasive pests.

Finally, before building any outdoor fires, be sure to check for local restrictions.

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for AP and publishes the award-winning weekly Dirt newsletter.