Campfire SOS - stop emerald ash borer in its tracks

By Scout Nelson

As Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer camping season, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is issuing a reminder to campers about the importance of purchasing firewood locally.

This initiative aims to minimize the spread of the emerald ash borer (EAB) and other invasive pests, which can be transported through firewood.

Hunter Roberts, the Secretary of DANR, stresses the critical role that buying local firewood plays in controlling the spread of EAB. Since firewood is a primary vehicle for these pests, purchasing it where you camp helps prevent them from reaching new areas.

Emerald ash borer is particularly troubling for South Dakota as it has already been identified in Minnehaha, Lincoln, and Union counties. In response, DANR has established a year-round quarantine affecting these areas and neighboring Turner County. This quarantine restricts the movement of ash products and all hardwood firewood out of the quarantined zones.

South Dakota has an external embargo preventing the entry of regulated ash products and untreated firewood from states east of South Dakota and any county where EAB presence is confirmed.

These measures underscore the importance of cooperation among campers and locals to protect South Dakota's natural resources. By adhering to these guidelines and opting to buy firewood locally, everyone can play a part in safeguarding the state’s forests and trees from invasive threats.

Photo Credit: moneycue-canada