Redwood Burl Poaching in National Parks

redsquid2

redsquid2

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Aug 31, 2011
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I found out about it just yesterday, sitting in the break room at work when I just happened to glance at the newspaper and notice the article. I was surprised that news of poaching redwood burl would make it all the way to northeast Kentucky. I don't think I have anything to worry about, but hopefully the last place I got a redwood block from isn't involved.
 
1st of all this article is what is called a filler piece. The incident took place 9 months ago. Apparently it was sensational enough that other newspapers decided to pick it up and run it in their newspapers as well.

This sort of thing has been going on for decades. In the 80s it was Madrone burl, in the 90s maple burl and these days anything that the thieves think they can sell.
I spoke to one of the dept of forestry officers when this happened.
He came here and showed me photos and asked if I could place an approximate value on the stolen wood.
It is obvious from the photos that the tree was cut by a tweaker. Probably with a stolen chain saw.
I explained to the ranger that nobody wants butchered chunks of green redwood. And from the looks of the photo it was probably not burl.
Most of the poaching is meth tweakers cutting 12 x 12 straight grain blocks that they sell to the bear carvers.

The main reason for any increased wood poaching is the lack of forestry workers patrolling the parks. ....and meth.
Those guys will strip out all the copper pipes and aluminum siding from mobile homes while people are at work.
When someone shows up here doing the meth zombie twitchy shuffle we run them off. If they have wood in their truck we call the sheriff because it is undoubtedly stolen.
 
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I used to live in the heart of redwood country. Once my friends found out I was making knives I have old coffee tables showing up on my driveway. I still have enough redwood for a couple hundred handles. I just need to get them stabilized. As Mark pointed out, most theft is the main tree. Burl is much harder to find and most that would steal don't even know what to look for. The main yard I used to buy some of my burl from talked about all the useless wood people would try to sell him. Most of it cut illegally as most redwoods in Ca are in private or state ownership. I know where all my redwood burl came from and know that Mark takes great care in where he purchases his from. No worries here.
 
You're right Mark, that crankster didn't even know how to use a saw well. Hadn't heard about this. Wow.
 
CNN is running this story today and I remembered this thread , is this the same picture from a year ago? Sad either way
redwood.jpg
 
Not doubting the CNN story, but that photo almost looks photoshopped. Notice the blurs, changes of shade, and the hand not looking like it is actually placed on the tree?
 
That's the same picture from a year ago.
 
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