As visitors head to their favorite campsites, DNR plant and disease specialist Andrea Diss-Torrance says leave the hitchhikers in your firewood at home. Firewood can transport harmful tree problems to your backyard, street or favorite campsite.
Just one firewood log can easily hide insects like emerald ash borer or gypsy moth, or the tiny spores of a tree-killing fungus like oak wilt.
Diss-Torrance says in the effort to stop plants and bugs from wrecking the Northwoods and elsewhere, simply buy your firewood near your campsite...
"...get your firewood locally, or if you want to move a long distance, check out certified firewood, firewood that has been certified by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection that has been treated to kill any possible infesting organisms. How they treat it is by heat or aging. You can get a listing of dealers from DATCP and also check out firewood scout, a website that will help your find firewood locally...."
The entire state of Wisconsin in now quarantined for Emerald Ash Borer, although the gypsy moth quarantine remains in effect. Oak wilt was mainly a southern Wisconsin problem, but has been found in spots across the Northwoods. We have a link to more informationhere.
