Drats! My firewood has rats!!

Is there an enclosed storage container you can put your wood in after it has seasoned that will keep the rats out of it?

Answer

Rats and other pests are an unfortunate reality when using firewood. An enclosed container is not a viable solution. The reason for this is because even seasoned wood still contains approximately 20% moisture. Keeping the wood in small enclosed space would promote mold problems.

There are several things that you can do to greatly reduce the chance of rats invading your home and firewood:

Store firewood far away from your home and certainly never stack it directly against the house. Preferably keep your firewood as far away from the house as possible while maintaining convenience.

Keep the wood elevated. When the firewood isn't touching the ground, it will dry quicker and be a less inviting place for rodents to invade.

Only store small amounts of firewood indoors and make sure that the wood is fully seasoned.

If you have a serious rat problem, it may be advisable to hire a pest control company to assess the situation. If you try to eradicate the problem yourself, be sure not to spray any pesticide or poison on the firewood as it could emit dangerous fumes when burning at a future date.

Good luck with the rats!

-MG