Moving firewood can also transport any pests or diseases that the wood may contain. If the wood contains any life stages of Gypsy Moth, like egg masses, they will hatch out wherever the wood is taken. If the wood contains any life stages of the Emerald Ash Borer, such as the larval stage, the adults will hatch out wherever the wood is taken. Besides insects, firewood can contain fungi, such as is present in Oak Wilt Disease, Dutch Elm Disease, and Beech Bark Disease. By transporting infected firewood, you are also spreading the pest or disease.

Please note that transporting hardwood firewood from areas that are quarantined in Michigan for Emerald Ash Borer, out of the quarantined area, is prohibited. In Grand Traverse County, these quarantined areas for EAB are all of Old Mission Peninsula and part of Whitewater Township. It is also against the law to transport hardwood firewood out of the Lower Peninsula. Those people in violation are being prosecuted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and are receiving stiff fines. For further information please see the EAB article in our Forestry section.

Since Michigan is also a quarantine state for Gypsy Moths, outdoor furniture, recreational equipment, outdoor toys and the like, must be inspected and certified before shipment to a non-regulated state. For further information on gypsy moth quarantines, please see the Gypsy Moth section of our website.

more info: http://ceris.purdue.edu/napis/news06/fr40875-gypsyMoth.txt