2 plead guilty in theft of elm bark

Lexington August 29, 2008 11:02 pm

— Two men pleaded guilty earlier this week in federal court to the theft of slippery elm bark from trees in the Daniel Boone National Forest, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
A third man was cited but is serving time in jail on unrelated charges and will be summoned to court at a later date.
The three men, brothers who live in Clay County, were caught “barking trees” on national forest land in Rockcastle County by a conservation officer with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
The offense is an increasing problem in the national forest, said Patrol Capt. Kimberly Kipp. Hundreds of slippery elm trees are being stripped of their bark each year, especially in the southeastern counties, she said. Bark thieves target trees on both national forest and private land.
Once the bark is removed, the tree can’t transport water and nutrients and dies within months.
The bark is sold as a dietary and weight-loss supplement and to soothe throat, stomach and skin irritations.
The two were hit with $835 in fines and costs and placed on two years probation.
They also were banned from entering national forest lands for any reason except for passage through.
They could have received maximum penalties of up to six months behind bars and $5,000 fines.
Taking of natural resources from public land is illegal without a permit, and permits are only issues on a limited basis for firewood and ginseng in designated areas.
To help prevent the illegal taking of resources the public is encouraged to report thefts to the nearest forest service office or the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.