Idaho prohibits the transport of invasive species into or through the state, which means bringing firewood infested with any invasive species into Idaho is against the law. Since it is incredibly difficult to tell if firewood is contaminated with invasive insects or pathogens, it should not be brought into the state unless it is certified, heat-treated to kill pests like emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, spotted lanternfly, and spongy moth. To prevent these and other invasive tree pests from entering the state, authorities in Idaho encourage residents and visitors to buy local firewood within the state. Also, moving firewood from Idaho into most midwestern and eastern states is against state laws, as this can spread forest pests like thousand cankers disease of walnut.
The state of Idaho supports the following recommendations for firewood users:
- Buy it where you burn it, both for camping and home heating
- Make sure your firewood comes from within 50 miles, and ideally within 10 miles of where it was cut
- When going camping, buy firewood at or near the campsite
- Leave any remaining local firewood at the campsite or leave it with the camp host
Bringing firewood from Canada into the USA is prohibited unless the firewood is labeled and certified heat-treated. Read about these requirements on the USDA and CBP firewood information sheet.
Bringing firewood from the USA into Canada is prohibited unless the firewood is labeled and certified heat-treated. Canada also encourages visitors to use local firewood.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 13 September 2023.
Idaho Web Resources
- Campers: Buy it where you burn it, Invasive Species of Idaho Information Page
- Idaho State Parks Camping (see Firewood Alert), Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
- What can I do? Idaho Invasive Species Report Information
- PlayCleanGo, Invasives 101
- Why should we care about invasive species? Idaho Information
- Forest Health, University of Idaho
- Plant Pest Diagnostic Services, University of Idaho
Pest Information
- Regulated and Invasive Insect Pests
- Regulated and Invasive Insect Watch List
- Asian longhorned beetle information and quarantines, USDA APHIS
- Emerald Ash Borer Information
- Spongy Moth Federal Quarantine Area Map
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