What are the best practices for storing firewood near or in my Ottawa garage without inviting pests?

Firewood storage near an Ottawa garage is genuinely one of those topics where the right habits make a significant difference — not just for pest control, but for protecting your garage structure and the wood itself through Ottawa's long, wet winters.

The single most important rule is to keep firewood away from your garage's exterior walls. A stack of wood pressed against your garage siding creates a perfect habitat for carpenter ants, mice, and termites — all of which are active in the Ottawa region. Carpenter ants in particular are a serious concern in eastern Ontario; they nest in moist wood and can migrate from a firewood pile into wall framing with alarming speed. Keep any outdoor firewood stack at least 60 centimetres (two feet) from the garage exterior, and ideally further.

Never store large quantities of firewood inside your garage. It seems convenient, especially during an Ottawa winter when you do not want to trudge through half a metre of snow to retrieve logs, but firewood brings insects, moisture, mould spores, and bark beetles directly into your garage. If any of those pests find their way into wall cavities or insulation, you have a much bigger problem than cold hands. A small carry-in supply — enough for a day or two — is reasonable, but bulk storage belongs outside.

For outdoor storage, elevate the wood off the ground. A simple firewood rack that keeps the bottom row at least 15 to 20 centimetres above grade prevents ground moisture from wicking into the wood and eliminates the damp soil contact that attracts insects and rodents. In Ottawa, where snow accumulates to 200-plus centimetres over a winter, elevation also keeps your bottom rows from freezing into a solid block by February.

Stack the wood in a spot that gets good sun and airflow — the south or west side of your property tends to work well. Cover only the top of the stack with a tarp or metal roof, not the sides. Wrapping the entire pile traps moisture and creates exactly the dark, humid microclimate that pests love. Proper airflow through the stack keeps the wood drying and discourages nesting.

One Ottawa-specific consideration worth mentioning: do not bring firewood purchased or gathered outside the immediate area into your garage or property without checking local regulations. Emerald ash borer and other invasive insects have devastated tree populations across eastern Ontario, and moving firewood is one of the primary ways these pests spread. Buy local firewood from local suppliers whenever possible.

If you are finding evidence of mice or insects in or around your garage — droppings, sawdust trails, gnaw marks — that is worth addressing before winter sets in, since Ottawa's cold drives rodents to seek warm shelter aggressively from October onward. Sealing gaps around your garage door bottom seal, side seals, and any penetrations through the foundation or walls is a practical first line of defence that most homeowners can handle themselves with weatherstripping and expanding foam sealant.