- Author: Anne E Schellman
Why Not Move Firewood?
By bringing wood from home, you can unknowingly spread invasive pests and diseases that can harm trees. This includes dry, aged, and seasoned wood. Once you arrive at your destination, pests can emerge from the firewood and spread to the trees and forests where you camp. Invasive and hard-to-control pests kill several million native trees every year, causing environmental and economic problems.
Did you Know?
New infestations of tree-killing insects and diseases are often found in campgrounds and parks as a result of campers moving firewood!
This trip, tell your friends and family why you aren't bringing firewood. For more information about firewood pests and resources for finding good firewood, visit the Don't Move Firewood web site. To learn about many of the invasive wood-boring pests and associated diseases and problems, visit the UC IPM web site.
First posted on August 30, 2021
Anne Schellman has been the Coordinator for the Stanislaus County Master Gardeners since 2018.
/h4>/h4>However, sometimes carpenter bees bore into lumber or trees to make nests and may damage structural wood or leave unsightly holes and stains. Multiple bees may use a common entry hole, tunneling several feet into wood to create chambers for their offspring.
Read more about these insects in the Pest Note: Carpenter Bees. http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7417.html
If you plan to camp this summer, remember to wait until you arrive at your destination before you purchase firewood. Why?
If you bring your own firewood to a campground, you could unknowingly spread invasive pests and diseases that can harm local trees. New infestations of tree-killing insects and diseases are often found in campgrounds and parks as a result of campers moving firewood.
Once you arrive at your destination, pests can emerge from the firewood and spread to the trees and forests where you camp. Invasive and hard-to-control pests kill several million native trees every year, causing environmental and economic problems.
Ways You Can Help
- Buy it where you burn it! Purchase firewood within the county once you get there. Visit this map to learn more about regulations and other resources to help protect California forests.
- Don't bring it! Visually inspecting firewood won't help you spot tiny insect eggs or microscopic fungi spores that can start a new and deadly infestation.
- Dry wood still isn't safe to use. Aged or seasoned wood can still have pests and diseases.
- Spread the word! Tell your friends not to bring firewood with them.
Find out more information about firewood pests, resources for finding good firewood and other activities at the Don't Move Firewood web site. For additional information about many of the invasive wood-boring pests and associated diseases and problems, visit the UC IPM web site.
/h2>- Author: Lorin Lilikoi Lima
Pests and diseases such as the Goldspotted Oak Borer, Emerald Ash Borer, and Sudden Oak Death can travel on firewood long distances, endangering previously unexposed areas, and potentially causing catastrophic die offs of trees and plants with little or no natural resistance to the intruder. As pests and diseases are often not easily identified on firewood, it is best to assume all wood is a potential risk. Choosing to buy and burn local wood is an easy solution, assuring you aren’t part of the problem. By keeping wood within its area of origin, you can be sure you are keeping any pests and pathogens already present in the area local as well.
The health of your forests, campgrounds, and your own backyards depends on you. For more information, go to the Don’t Move Firewood website at http://www.dontmovefirewood.org/.
Photo Source: Lorin Lima, UC Cooperative Extension - San Diego
- Author: Lorin Lilikoi Lima
Photo Source: Lorin Lima, UC Cooperative Extension - San Diego