Texas regulates the movement of firewood due to several harmful forest pests that threaten the health of Texas trees. The state has several counties under quarantine for the highly destructive emerald ash borer which means firewood cannot be taken out of these counties. Texas also prohibits the entry of out-of-state hickory, pecan, and walnut wood due to an exterior quarantine on the pecan weevil. Additionally, most of Texas is under quarantine for the imported fire ant, which legally restricts the movement of firewood out of these regions. Another invasive pest that the authorities are closely watching is the Mexican soapberry borer, which has been detected in 50 Texas counties.
The Texas Department of Agriculture urges the public to buy firewood locally (where you plan to use it) and asks that visitors do not transport firewood to campgrounds or parks.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection also encourages campers to burn firewood where they obtain it and to avoid moving unburned firewood from one campground to another. In addition, all firewood from Mexico entering Texas is subject to inspection at ports of entry.
This summary is accurate to the best of DMF staff abilities as of 7 September 2023.
Texas Web Resources:
- Texas Invasives, Take Action
- Texas Invasives Resources
- Texas A&M Forest Health
- U.S. Forest Service Southern Region Firewood Information
- Buy it where you burn it Texas poster
- Texas Hungry Pests
Pest Specific Information
- Pest and Disease Alerts, Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
- Red Imported Fire Ant Quarantine in Texas, TDA
- Imported Fire Ant National Quarantine
- Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine in Texas
- Pest Alert: Thousand Cankers Disease
- Mexican Soapberry Borer: a forest pest threatening western soapberry trees in Texas
- Texas Plant Disease Diagnostics Lab
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