Firewood, Christmas Trees and Holiday Boxes: What Can Come Inside With Them
Denver Metro & the Front Range
This time of year, a lot of things come into the house from outside: firewood for the fireplace, a real tree, and boxes of decorations that have sat in the garage or attic since last January. Every so often, something comes in with them.
Most of it is harmless. Here's what you might see, what to do about it, and the one that's worth taking seriously.
Firewood
A stack of firewood is a shelter for all kinds of things: spiders, beetles, ants and wood-boring insects that were living in the tree. Bring a log into a warm living room and whatever was in it wakes up and wanders out.
The good news, from Colorado State Forest Service and CSU entomologists: with few exceptions, insects that come out of firewood won't infest your furniture, and most can't survive indoors at all. They're a nuisance, not a threat to the house.
The bigger issue is outside. A woodpile stacked against the house is a winter home for mice and a bridge for insects to reach the siding.
How to store firewood
- Keep the pile outside, at least 20 feet from the house, and up off the ground on a rack or pallets
- Stack it so air moves through it, and cover the top but not the sides
- Bring in only what you'll burn that day. Don't store a week's worth by the fireplace
- Knock each piece against the ground outside before you carry it in
- Don't spray firewood with insecticide. It can give off harmful fumes when it burns
- Buy local and burn it where you buy it. Moving firewood is one of the ways tree-killing insects spread across Colorado
Real Christmas trees
Real trees come from outdoors, and occasionally something comes with them. The most common is the Cinara aphid, a large, dark aphid that's easy to mistake for a tick. It feeds only on conifers. It doesn't bite or sting and can't hurt people or pets, though crushed ones can stain carpet and tree skirts. You might also see a few small spiders, mites or other tiny insects that warm up once the tree is inside.
Before and after the tree comes in
- Have the lot shake the tree on their shaker, or give it a good shake yourself before it comes inside
- Look over the trunk and lower branches for anything unusual
- Vacuum up any insects that show up. No spray is needed
Holiday boxes: the one to take seriously
Decoration boxes that sat in the garage, attic or basement all year are a favorite place for mice to nest. Cardboard, tissue paper and fabric make good nesting material, and nobody disturbs them for eleven months.
- Open stored boxes outside or in the open garage, not in the living room
- Look for droppings, chewed cardboard, shredded paper and a musty smell
- If you find droppings, don't brush them off or vacuum them. In Colorado, deer mice can carry hantavirus. Soak the droppings with disinfectant or a bleach-and-water mix, wait 5 minutes, then wipe them up with paper towels
- When you pack up in January, use plastic bins with tight lids instead of cardboard
When to call us
- You've found mouse droppings in storage, or you're hearing scratching in the walls or ceiling
- Insects keep showing up long after the firewood or tree is gone
- You're seeing ants indoors in winter, which can mean a nest inside the house
At the time of service our exclusion experts will inspect and give you an estimate for any repairs (exclusion) needed to keep mice and pests from getting back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can bugs in firewood infest my house?
Rarely. Colorado forestry and CSU entomologists say that with few exceptions, insects in firewood won't infest household furnishings, and most can't survive indoors. Storing wood outside until you burn it keeps them from coming out in the house.
Should I spray my firewood with bug spray?
No. Insecticide on firewood can give off harmful fumes when the wood burns. Store it outside and bring in only what you'll burn that day.
What are the little bugs on my Christmas tree?
Usually Cinara aphids, large dark aphids that feed on conifers. They don't bite or sting and can't hurt people or pets. Shake the tree before bringing it in and vacuum any that show up.
Why are there mouse droppings in my holiday decorations?
Boxes stored in the garage, attic or basement are quiet, undisturbed nesting spots. Open them outside, and clean droppings by soaking them with disinfectant first, never by sweeping or vacuuming.
Looking for more? Read about general pest control or browse the full pest library.
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