Although fall weather in Wisconsin is cooler and unpredictable, it's an excellent season for camping throughout the state.
Fall camping in Wisconsin offers beautiful fall foliage, quieter campgrounds compared to summer, and overall pleasant weather. Just remember to bring extra gear in case it gets too cold.
Because of the popularity of fall camping, and because some people will now also begin using wood to heat their homes and cabins, October is officially National Firewood Month, which is a time for an important warning about firewood choices.
Important Firewood Warning Issued In Wisconsin
Recently, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources warned people in Wisconsin to be smart with their firewood choices because, with good practice, everyone can help slow the spread of tree-killing pests and diseases.
The DNR says that these tree-killers often lurk on or inside firewood. These include the spongy moth, Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer, the fungus that causes oak wilt, and many other invasive insects and fungi.
When untreated firewood is transported away from the tree where it was harvested, those pests and fungi can later emerge to attack trees at the new location. This can happen whether that new location is in the next town or hundreds of miles away.
Therefore, it's crucial that everyone in Wisconsin "buy local, burn local", which means purchasing firewood for your camping trip on-site instead of bringing it from home or picking it up along the way.
All staffed state parks and forests with campgrounds offer local firewood for sale, and firewood is often available for purchase privately nearby. To find local firewood sellers and vendors of certified firewood, you can visit the Firewood Scout website.
Officials also strongly recommended that campers leave any unused firewood behind because it's not worth bringing a pest home to infest your property.
Rules For Using Wood To Heat Homes
It's also important to note that the same guidelines also apply to those who use wood to heat their home or cabin. Bringing in wood from outside your area can put the trees on your property at risk from insects or fungi that have already infested other parts of the state.
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The lone exception is firewood that has been treatment-certified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, which is safe and legal to take anywhere in the state.
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