Firewood and the Emerald Ash Borer
Missouri's forests are being threatened and you can help protect them. The emerald ash borer, an exotic beetle, has already killed more than 50 million ash trees in the northern United States.
It has now been detected in more counties in Missouri. Federal and state quarantines have been issued for Carter, Clay, Iron, Madison, Platte, Reynolds, Shannon and Wayne counties to restrict movement of any ash wood product. This includes all hardwood firewood, the most common way emerald ash borer is spread. The quarantine includes the following state parks: Sam A. Baker, Johnson's Shut-Ins, Lake Wappapello, Taum Sauk Mountain, Watkins Mill and Weston Bend.
How You Can Help:
For campers at Sam A. Baker, Johnson's Shut-Ins, Lake Wappapello, Taum Sauk Mountain, Watkins Mill or Weston Bend state parks:
- If you purchase or bring firewood into one of these parks, do not take it out of the parks. Once it is brought into a quarantined county, it is considered contaminated and must not leave the county.
- If you have firewood in either park, you must burn all of the firewood before you leave. Do not leave it for other campers.
- Violators of the federal and state quarantines are subject to penalties, including fines.
For all campers:
- Know where your firewood comes from. Do not move or purchase firewood if it comes from Wayne County, Missouri, Illinois or any of the other eight states that have an emerald ash borer infestation. This also means not moving firewood with you on your camping trip. View updated maps of quarantined states at www.emeraldashborer.info/map.cfm
- If you have any questions about your firewood, please check with park staff.
Together, we can help prevent the spread of this beetle and protect Missouri's state parks, forests and urban areas.
Resources
Don't Move Firewood, Missouri Department of Conservation
Emerald Ash Borer, cooperative effort of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Emerald Ash Borer Hot Issues, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Emerald Ash Borer species profile, National Agricultural Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture
FAQs, Missouri Emerald Ash Borer Program, University of Missouri Extension
Frequently Asked Questions about Emerald Ash Borer, Missouri Department of Conservation
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