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. Idaho has trees and forests that could be infested by harmful forest pests that hitchhike on firewood 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 and leave out-of-state firewood at home. 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 these recommendations for firewood users to prevent the movement of damaging tree pests:
- Buy it where you burn it, both for home heating and camping firewood uses.
- Make sure your firewood comes from within 50 miles, and ideally within 10 miles.
- 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 7 September 2022.
Idaho Web Resources
- Campers: Buy it where you burn it, Invasive Species of Idaho Information Page
- What can I do? Idaho Invasive Species Report Information
- Idaho State Parks Camping (see Firewood Alert), Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
- PlayCleanGo, Invasives 101
- Why should we care about invasive species? Idaho Information
- Forest Health, University of Idaho
- Plant Pest Diagnostic Services, University of Idaho
- What’s wrong with my tree?
Pest Information
- Regulated and Invasive Insect Pests
- Regulated and Invasive Insect Watch List
- Bark Beetles and Firewood
- Asian longhorned beetle information and quarantines, USDA APHIS
- Emerald Ash Borer Information
- Spongy Moth Federal Quarantine Area Map
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