RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WXPR) -- The state is hoping hunters remember something from the summertime when they head to their hunting cabins: leave your firewood at home.
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection spokesperson Donna Gilson says portions of the state don't have gypsy moths, mainly in northern forests. She told WXPR they don't want people bringing infected firewood north and letting the critters lose to wreck the landscape."Generally, it's just a bad idea all the way around to haul firewood. You could be carrying some kind of pest that we might not even know about yet. You'll be the first one to bring it to the Northwoods."
Hardwood firewood cannot be carried legally from counties quarantined for gypsy moths to areas that aren't quarantined. Fifty counties in Wisconsin have a gypsy moth quarantine. Equally destructive is the Emerald Ash Borer, already found in Oneida County. Another is Oak Wilt, which is slowly infesting the Northwoods. Gilson has some advice.
"What you should do is buy firewood that has a DATCP-certified label, meaning it has gone through processes that our department has approved to get rid of pests. You can carry(firewood) like that safely. Otherwise, if you just buy or gather firewood near the area where your cabin is and just use it there. Don't bring it back with you. Just leave it there for the next time you go back."
A list of certified firewood dealers is available online at the Department of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection website.
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