11-12-2010, 12:10 PM
As the 2010 deer hunting opener approaches, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters that only firewood purchased at a state park or from a DNR-approved vendor may be brought onto any DNR-administered lands.
Related Links:
Firewood vendors
Firewood information
Emerald ash borer
Quarantine information
State park and state forest visitors with DNR-approved firewood must retain the sales receipt, bundle label or DNR-approved vendor tickets as proof of purchase.
Visitors bringing unapproved firewood onto DNR-administered lands will be asked to surrender the wood, and may receive a $100 fine.
People camping on state forest land outside a designated campground may gather dead wood on the ground for campfire use on site. In state parks and designated campgrounds in state forests, people are prohibited from scavenging dead wood.
After the 2009 discovery of emerald ash borer (EAB) in a St. Paul neighborhood, DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten issued a revised order concerning the use of firewood. The new order specifies that firewood originating from a quarantined county in Minnesota will be approved for use only in that county. Firewood from counties bordering quarantined counties in Minnesota will be approved for use only in those counties. Currently, there are quarantines on firewood, ash trees and ash products in Hennepin, Houston and Ramsey counties.
EAB is an invasive beetle that kills ash trees when its larvae tunnel into the wood and cut off the tree's supply of water and nutrients. Since its accidental introduction into North America, EAB has killed more than 50 million ash trees in 15 states and in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. With more than 900 million ash trees, Minnesota is a prime target for EAB.
"EAB spreads slowly on its own but can spread quickly by hitching a ride to new areas when people transport firewood or other wood products infested with the insect," said Sue Burks, DNR Forestry's Invasive Species Program coordinator.
To slow the spread of EAB, the quarantine prohibits the movement of the following items out of quarantined counties unless accompanied by a compliance agreement from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA):
Firewood from hardwood (non-coniferous) species.<br />
Entire ash trees.<br />
Ash limbs and branches.<br />
Ash logs or untreated ash lumber with bark attached.<br />
Uncomposted ash chips and uncomposted ash bark chips greater than one inch in two of the three dimensions.<br />
Evidence of another invasive insect, the gypsy moth, was found on firewood in Stillwater this fall. Surveyors from the MDA were responding to high numbers of male gypsy moths caught in traps in the Stillwater area this summer. Hundreds of gypsy moth egg masses were found as a result of a September survey of the area surrounding the traps. Additional egg masses were found by surveyors in Hopkins and Coon Rapids.
Officials urge Minnesotans to take the following steps to protect state lands and keep EAB and other forest pests from spreading:
Buy Minnesota grown and harvested firewood.<br />
Buy local or certified wood from an approved vendor, and burn the wood (or leave it at the campsite) rather than take it home.<br />
Comply with all state and federal regulations regarding the movement of firewood.
Related Links:
Firewood vendors
Firewood information
Emerald ash borer
Quarantine information
State park and state forest visitors with DNR-approved firewood must retain the sales receipt, bundle label or DNR-approved vendor tickets as proof of purchase.
Visitors bringing unapproved firewood onto DNR-administered lands will be asked to surrender the wood, and may receive a $100 fine.
People camping on state forest land outside a designated campground may gather dead wood on the ground for campfire use on site. In state parks and designated campgrounds in state forests, people are prohibited from scavenging dead wood.
After the 2009 discovery of emerald ash borer (EAB) in a St. Paul neighborhood, DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten issued a revised order concerning the use of firewood. The new order specifies that firewood originating from a quarantined county in Minnesota will be approved for use only in that county. Firewood from counties bordering quarantined counties in Minnesota will be approved for use only in those counties. Currently, there are quarantines on firewood, ash trees and ash products in Hennepin, Houston and Ramsey counties.
EAB is an invasive beetle that kills ash trees when its larvae tunnel into the wood and cut off the tree's supply of water and nutrients. Since its accidental introduction into North America, EAB has killed more than 50 million ash trees in 15 states and in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. With more than 900 million ash trees, Minnesota is a prime target for EAB.
"EAB spreads slowly on its own but can spread quickly by hitching a ride to new areas when people transport firewood or other wood products infested with the insect," said Sue Burks, DNR Forestry's Invasive Species Program coordinator.
To slow the spread of EAB, the quarantine prohibits the movement of the following items out of quarantined counties unless accompanied by a compliance agreement from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA):
Firewood from hardwood (non-coniferous) species.<br />
Entire ash trees.<br />
Ash limbs and branches.<br />
Ash logs or untreated ash lumber with bark attached.<br />
Uncomposted ash chips and uncomposted ash bark chips greater than one inch in two of the three dimensions.<br />
Evidence of another invasive insect, the gypsy moth, was found on firewood in Stillwater this fall. Surveyors from the MDA were responding to high numbers of male gypsy moths caught in traps in the Stillwater area this summer. Hundreds of gypsy moth egg masses were found as a result of a September survey of the area surrounding the traps. Additional egg masses were found by surveyors in Hopkins and Coon Rapids.
Officials urge Minnesotans to take the following steps to protect state lands and keep EAB and other forest pests from spreading:
Buy Minnesota grown and harvested firewood.<br />
Buy local or certified wood from an approved vendor, and burn the wood (or leave it at the campsite) rather than take it home.<br />
Comply with all state and federal regulations regarding the movement of firewood.