{"id":34742,"date":"2025-10-13T11:02:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T15:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/?p=34742"},"modified":"2026-04-21T12:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T16:49:19","slug":"october-is-firewood-month-protect-indianas-forests-by-making-smart-choices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/october-is-firewood-month-protect-indianas-forests-by-making-smart-choices\/","title":{"rendered":"October Is Firewood Month: Protect Indiana\u2019s Forests by Making Smart Choices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As the crisp autumn air settles in and campfires become a seasonal staple, October brings an important reminder: your firewood choices matter. That\u2019s why October is officially Firewood Month, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the risks of moving firewood and the spread of invasive forest pests.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dont-move-firewood-website-h450.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"dont-move-firewood-website-h450\" data-rl_caption=\"dont-move-firewood-website-h450\" title=\"dont-move-firewood-website-h450\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-34746\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dont-move-firewood-website-h450.jpg\" alt=\"Don't Move Firewood website.\" width=\"325\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dont-move-firewood-website-h450.jpg 418w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/dont-move-firewood-website-h450-250x269.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 325px) 100vw, 325px\" \/><\/a>Why \u201cDon\u2019t Move Firewood\u201d Matters<\/strong><br \/>\nTransporting firewood, even just a few miles, can unintentionally spread destructive pests like emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle and spongy moth. These invaders often hide inside or on firewood, threatening Indiana\u2019s forests, parks and urban trees.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dontmovefirewood.org\/firewood-month\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Don\u2019t Move Firewood<\/a> website offers excellent resources to help you make informed choices. Whether you&#8217;re heating a cabin, heading out to hunt, or planning a backyard bonfire, they recommend:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Buying firewood where you\u2019ll burn it<\/li>\n<li>Choosing certified heat-treated wood<\/li>\n<li>Gathering wood on-site when permitted<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can also explore their Firewood Month Toolkit, maps of regulations and a webinar series designed for professionals and outdoor enthusiasts alike.<\/p>\n<p>While October is Firewood Month, the risk of spreading invasive pests lasts well beyond the fall. Many forest pests remain a threat throughout the year. Adults may still be visible until the first hard freeze, and egg masses can be observed from now through June. The spotted lanternfly females lay egg masses in late summer through early winter, often peaking in October. These masses can survive through winter and hatch in the spring. Learn more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.in.gov\/dnr\/entomology\/pests-of-concern\/spotted-lanternfly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spotted Lanternfly<\/a> from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This is why it\u2019s important to practice safe firewood habits year-round.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Spotlight on ReportINvasive<\/strong><br \/>\nCheck out the latest post on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/reportINvasive\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ReportINvasive<\/a> Facebook which reinforces the importance of Firewood Month. ReportINvasive is a trusted source for updates on invasive species in Indiana, and their social media outreach is a great way to stay informed and engaged. Give the Facebook page a LIKE and FOLLOW for future webinars and workshops.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Concerned About Insects? Purdue Extension Entomology Can Help<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/report-invasive-facebook-firewood-post-h450.png\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"report-invasive-facebook-firewood-post-h450\" data-rl_caption=\"report-invasive-facebook-firewood-post-h450\" title=\"report-invasive-facebook-firewood-post-h450\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-34748\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/report-invasive-facebook-firewood-post-h450-200x200.png\" alt=\"ReportINvasive Facebook post, October Firewood Month.\" width=\"325\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/report-invasive-facebook-firewood-post-h450-250x269.png 250w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/report-invasive-facebook-firewood-post-h450.png 418w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 325px) 100vw, 325px\" \/><\/a>If you suspect insect damage or want to learn more about forest pests, the <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/entm\/extension\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Purdue Extension Entomology team<\/a> is an outstanding resource. Their experts provide science-based guidance on insect identification, management strategies, and outreach materials to help protect Indiana\u2019s ecosystems.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s work together to keep Indiana\u2019s forests healthy and resilient. This October, make the smart choice\u2014don\u2019t move firewood!<\/p>\n<p><strong>More Resources<br \/>\n<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.in.gov\/dnr\/entomology\/pests-of-concern\/spotted-lanternfly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spotted Lanternfly<\/a> &#8211; including map sharing locations, Indiana Department of Natural Resources<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/purduelandscapereport.org\/article\/october-is-firewood-awareness-month\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">October is Firewood Awareness Month!<\/a>, Purdue Landscape Report<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.in.gov\/dnr\/rules-and-regulations\/invasive-species\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Invasive Species<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.entm.purdue.edu\/iisc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Indiana Invasive Species Council<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sicim.info\/cismas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/iiseagrant.org\/work\/aquatic-invasive-species\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Aquatic Invasive Species<\/a>, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.emeraldashborer.info\/\">Emerald Ash Borer Information Network<\/a>, Purdue University and Partners<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/edustore.purdue.edu\/item.asp?Item_Number=FNR-535-W\">Invasive plants: impact on environment and people<\/a>, The Education Store, Purdue Extension\u2019s resource center<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.in.gov\/dnr\/entomology\/entomology-weekly-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Entomology Weekly Review<\/a>, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Entomology &amp; Plant Pathology<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.in.gov\/dnr\/entomology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Division of Entomology &amp; Plant Pathology<\/a>, Indiana Department of Natural Resources<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/contact-us\/directory\/diana-j-evans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Diana Evans<\/a>, Extension and Web Communication Specialist<br \/>\nPurdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the crisp autumn air settles in and campfires become a seasonal staple, October brings an important reminder: your firewood choices matter. That\u2019s why October is officially Firewood Month, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the risks of moving firewood and the spread of invasive forest pests. Why \u201cDon\u2019t Move Firewood\u201d Matters Transporting firewood, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,80,45,47,53],"tags":[148,2066,566,261,65,1677],"class_list":["post-34742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-forestry","category-trees","category-howto","category-invasiveinsects","category-urbanforestry","tag-extension","tag-firewood","tag-forests","tag-indiana","tag-invasive-insects","tag-purdue-entomology","audience-for-enthusiasts","audience-for-homeowners","audience-for-landowners","audience-for-professionals"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34742"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34786,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34742\/revisions\/34786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}