EAB threat leads to tougher firewood rules

There are now tighter restrictions on firewood being brought into the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Forest officials say, blame the Emerald Ash Borer.

The tree-killing bug is now in several Wisconsin counties. Many hunters from those counties and other locations are expected to head to the Chequamegon-Nicolet soon. So, the forest service has banned bringing firewood into the Chequamegon-Nicolet from more than 25 miles away, unless purchased from a certified dealer. Previously, the Chequamegon-Nicolet just banned firewood from south of highway 29 which in most sections, is more than 25 miles south of the forest. Forest service spokesperson Suzanne Fleury says the change might slow the beetle from bothering the ash trees in the Chequamegon-Nicolet

Fleury says it’ll also be a challenge getting the word out to hunters in other states. She says the forest service will continue to track the spread of the ash borer and change the new firewood restriction as necessary.

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