USDA asks hunters and campers to avoid moving pests in firewood

What happened

USDA’s animal and plant health agency says firewood can carry harmful insects and tree diseases into new places.

The main points

• The October 1 reminder is aimed at people camping, hunting or heating homes as cooler weather arrives.
• The agency recommends getting wood near the place it will be burned, or choosing packages certified as heat-treated.
• People should check local collection rules and restrictions on moving wood. Leftover wood should stay where it was obtained.
• Pests may be hidden inside the wood or on its outside, even when a load looks harmless.

Why it matters to your ranch

Keeping pests from traveling in firewood helps protect trees used by wildlife and people on rural land.