Uncovered firewood offers sanctuary for outdoor pests during summer and winter months. In the summer, the old firewood stack offers shade under the sun. In the winter, firewood creates a safe haven from rain, snow and cold. Some pests also burrow in the wood and invade your home each time you bring a new stack into the house.

Common Pests in Firewood

In the warm months, termites treat firewood as a gift given freely by the homeowner. It sits there unprotected and provides plenty of food for large termite colonies. Other pests, such as mice and rats, use the firewood stack as shelter. They build nests between logs and breed throughout the summer months. They’re also within close proximity to your home and can invade any room at a moment’s notice.

Some pests use unprotected firewood for hibernation, such as stink bugs. Though these bugs prefer the warmth of the indoors, they will crawl deep within the firewood to hibernate during the winter. If you bring an infested stack into your house, the warmth can awaken the stink bugs and send them flying through the room. If you squash the bugs, they leave behind a foul odor that can linger for days.

Pest Control Professionals to the Rescue

If pests have chosen your firewood as food or a home, contact a pest control professional for assistance. A professional has the tools to eliminate the infestation without causing harm to family and pets. With the infestation eliminated, you can cover the firewood and keep it safe for the rest of the winter.