The state of Kentucky advises residents and visitors to purchase local or certified heat-treated firewood to avoid moving forest pests.
Campgrounds in parks and protected areas within Kentucky have strict rules to control the spread of invasive pests that travel on firewood. For example:
- Kentucky State Park policy states you can either buy local firewood from within Kentucky and keep the receipt of sale on hand, or you can buy bundled certified heat-treated firewood. Campground staff are instructed to enforce these rules for all visitors.
- Kentucky’s National Parks (Cumberland Gap National Park, Mammoth Cave National Park, and Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area) ask visitors to purchase firewood in the campground, or bring bundled certified heat-treated firewood. Gathering firewood may be permitted in some campgrounds- call ahead of time to learn if this is allowed.
Find a local firewood seller in Kentucky by using FirewoodScout.org.
If you are in Kentucky and planning to visit another state, please do not take firewood with you. Many states prohibit the entry of out-of-state firewood. Whether you are using firewood for home-heating, or outdoor recreation, moving firewood from one place to another can spread pests that damage Kentucky’s trees.
Some examples of the forest pests that have destroyed trees in Kentucky and surrounding states are the emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, hemlock woolly adelgid, laurel wilt disease, and Asian longhorned beetle.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 16 June 2021.
Statewide and Site Based Resources for Kentucky
- Moving Firewood and Other Regulated Articles from Quarantined Areas is Prohibited! Article from Kentucky Office of the State Entomologist
- US Forest Service Southern Region Firewood Information
- Firewood Scout, Kentucky page
- Hungry Pests, Kentucky Page
- Kentucky State Parks Firewood Policy
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area Firewood Quarantine
- Cumberland Gap National Park Firewood information
- Mammoth Cave National Park Firewood information
Pest Specific Information
- Kentucky Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey group
- Non-native Pests list, University of Kentucky
- Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab, University of Kentucky
- Emerald Ash Borer page, University of Kentucky
- European Gypsy Moth North American Quarantine Map
- Emerald ash borer is causing havoc in Kentucky March, 2021
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