Cut It Out! Illegal Redwood Poaching Reported Near Bull Creek Flats in SoHum
Redwood log being chopped for shingles. [Photo provided by a local]
For at least six weeks, fresh tire tracks have been leading off Mattole Road and into protected old-growth forest near Bull Creek Flats, where poachers appear to have been illegally cutting and removing redwood burl and slabs for use in shingles and other wood products, according to an observer who also posted on Reddit.
Muddy tracks leading to the scene of the crime. [Photo from a local]
He said he has been documenting the activity and that fresh sawdust found at the site indicates cutting activity occurred as recently as last weekend. The apparent ongoing theft and damage in one of Humboldt County’s most iconic old-growth groves enraged him.
The North Coast Redwoods District –Humboldt Redwoods State Park issued this press release about the situation. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent unless guilty proven guilty:
WEOTT – Park Rangers with California State Parks are asking for the public’s assistance with identifying suspects involved in the ongoing theft of large amounts of old-growth redwood from Mattole Road in Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Over the past 6 months State Park Rangers have made 4 arrests related to old-growth redwood theft in the park but need assistance identifying two (2) additional suspects and their vehicle that were captured by remote surveillance. Both suspects seen in surveillance appear to be white male adults. The suspects’ vehicle is believed to be a Dodge Ram pickup truck (1994-2002), extended cab, two-tone paint, with a large dent on the rear passenger side fender. The truck may have “Ram” logo decorative covers on the rear taillights.
An approximately fifty (50) foot section of a large old-growth redwood log has been cut and parts stolen. In addition to the removal of a log that would provide hundreds of years of crucial nutrients to the forest, the suspects are driving off-road to get to the log, causing deep ruts and significant damage to the forest floor. The stolen sections of the log are cut into approximately three (3) foot long sections and split into shake bolts. Park Rangers actively monitor wood theft sites and have apprehended and arrested people stealing public resources in prior separate cases.
Park Rangers are requesting the community’s help in identifying suspects who damage and steal park resources. State Parks requests anyone with information regarding identifying suspects in this case or related criminal activity to contact Humboldt Redwoods State Park crime tip line at (707) 946-1816.
California State Park Rangers are committed to protecting our State’s natural and cultural resources and urge the public to assist in protecting our remaining old growth redwood forests.
Image captured via remote surveillance shows two suspects poaching old-growth redwood parts from a downed tree
Image captured via remote surveillance shows two suspects loading poached old-growth redwood parts into their vehicle.
Image captured via remote surveillance shows two suspects poaching old-growth redwood parts from a downed tree.Image captured via remote surveillance shows a down old-growth redwood in the forefront and the suspects’ vehicle in the background.
Image captured during the day shows the aftermath of redwood poaching###
Please, if you have any info, contact the Humboldt Redwoods State Park crime tip line at (707) 946-1816.
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Photos of suspects not loading for me
There are some nice 3ft old-growth redwood shakes for sale on marketplace…. Coincidence?
They look fresh cut and he says he can fill any size order, “Old Growth Redwood”.
No photos available on your article.
WE fixed the error.
Whoever is nailing a new shingle roof on their place might have a clue of the origin. Put cameras in the trees. Post a guard. This isn’t rocket science. It appears those doing the damage/theft could be of low intelligence if any.
One looked like he hasn’t missed a meal in 10 years
I think that actually might be a woman?
State Parks should have called in the FBI and set a trap. Perps might work for State Parks.
RHBB is punishing us with their story headline.
There’s an excellent book that deals with this this phenomenon, not only on the North Coast, but in many other parts of the world: Tree Thieves, by Lyndsie Bourgon. It’s . . . in the Humboldt County Library collection, albeit checked out at the time of this writing, and overdue since March. It’s also available at the Cal Poly Humboldt library, if you have checkout privileges there. Anyway, yeah, Tree Thieves, by Lyndsie Bourgon. Try to get the public library to break down and purchase another copy of if, so that you too could read it.
Overdue since March? Probably stolen! That would be ironic, no?
I’m curious what the penalty is for this.
Whatever it is, it needs to be more.
As an old growth log would have a market value of many thousands of dollars,
I would hope this would at least be felony vandalism and felony theft.
A nice six-month stint inside with community service after release might help deter others who are thinking of doing similar.
If charges could be Federal, there would likely be significant punishment. If charges are State of California, there will be no significant punishment.
Update: The chainsaw was found innocent.
IF chainsaws are illegal only outlaws will have chainsaws…………………
It’s long past time to ban assault chainsaws and high capacity chainsaws! Only police and Cal Fire should have access to anything more powerful than a two man cross cut Saw.
Not enough! 🙂
Standing by a Sequioa log in Northern California, c. 1910. (Photo: Library of Congress/HAER CAL,54-THRIV.V,2–17)
A logger with a redwood. (Photo: Swanlund-Baker Collection, Humboldt State University Library)
https://www.activenorcal.com/historic-photos-northern-california-redwoods-lumberjacks/
Now those are old growth redwoods. The ones in Lower Redway in the news lately, not so much.
The ones in redway are bigger and older.
And somebody got a kickback.
Same shit on fish creek in between miranda and phillipsville..same tweak bags..this county…
What land is this on?
State Park?
Yes. Ca State Park.
Fixed
The more desperate people become, the more likely they are to target public resources and infrastructure for private gain.
The poor man’s version of Tech Bros and Oligarch kleptocracy.
People used to cut burls off the trees. Those guys look like they are local rednecks. And probably have a iq of 70.
Damn! Those are some big tits.
Thieves suck.
I think I’ve seen these two on Salmon Creek rd. Taking wood from the side of the road. Maybe a year ago , if it is the large one is a woman.
The picture looks like a woman in one of the pictures
instead of a game camera how about just sit out there and watch the spot I’m sure as soon as the bag of dope is gone they will be back not now that there alerted it’s sad what has happened to so hum it is. I’m no one to speak I haven’t been the best citizen in the past but I’m trying to do stuff better but leave the redwoods out of it 5 %are left it’s sad can’t. Damn beautiful spot destroyed for years to come
the chunks of redwood wood in the pictures and in the truck ar called bolts
they will be taken to a small shingle or lathe mill for further processing
thats who would buy the bolts
these lowlifes are not going to use a fro and make california shakes and besides it isnt cut for cal shakes anyway
find the mill
find the maggot who buys stolen stuff
and they will roll over on thier scumbag pals
not too many people processing wood like that and even fewer buyers from those mills
Steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king.—Dylan
I appreciate that journalists are clever with the titles of their articles. Like: ‘Cut It Out!’
Was there a short list with some other titles, Kym?….
‘Bucking the law!’
‘Theft! While most of us were sawing logs!’
‘Barking up the wrong tree!’
‘Thieves take redwood and split!’
To paraphrase Reagan: ‘Sawn one redwood. Saw them all’
‘Thieves shaking after assault on redwood tree!’
….And others. 😉
These individuals should be shingled out so their neighbors will know who they are and what they did.
I confess there was more than one title I considered. I did not consider Bucking the Law–if I had only thought of it, I might have chosen it instead.
That’s a high compliment. Thank you!
Wow, let’s just show them our hand.
I’d like to buy some old growth redwood shakes.
State parks has known about this for at least 6 weeks? WTFF?
That was my exact thoughts too!! Why not ask the public for help sooner? And suddenly as soon as they go public with a story on redwood news and here that same day a dodge ram matching the description gets dropped off across from fk lane Grove in pville 🤔