That stack of firewood headed to deer camp or the cabin could be carrying the next tree pest into a healthy Northern Michigan forest.
Emerald ash borer, oak wilt, and other invasive pests and diseases hitch rides in firewood, often with no visible sign. Larvae can survive under the bark for months, then emerge in a brand new area far from where the wood was cut.
The simplest rule is to buy or gather firewood close to where it will be burned. A common guideline is to keep firewood within about ten miles of where it was cut, and certified heat-treated firewood is a safe option when travel can't be avoided.
When a tree comes down on your own property, that wood is safest used right there. Keeping local wood local is one of the easiest ways to protect the forests that make this part of Michigan special, for this generation and the next.
#DontMoveFirewood #NorthernMichigan #BoyneCityMI #EmeraldAshBorer #TreeHealth
An authentic photo of neatly split and stacked firewood from a local tree removal job. A simple Canva graphic with a firewood stack and the phrase below also works for this educational post.
Canva text suggestion: "Burn It Where You Buy It" or "Keep Northern Michigan Firewood Local"