Months Long Investigation Leads to Arrest of Local Burl Poacher

While on routine patrol in January, law enforcement Rangers from Redwood National and State Parks located a redwood poaching site inside the park boundaries. It was an old growth redwood with massive chunks cut out from the base of the tree. See attached Photo. During the ensuing investigation, rangers identified a suspect in the nearby town of Orick. Rangers were able to obtain enough information during the investigation to obtain a search warrant for the suspect’s residence. On March 27, 2018 law enforcement rangers served a search warrant in Orick. During the service of the search warrant multiple pieces of old growth redwood were discovered matching the poaching site. Rangers also discovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, illegal weapons and various items of stolen property.

The 35 year old suspect, Derek Alwin Hughes, of Orick was subsequently arrested. Hughes was booked under the following charges:

PC 594(a) - Vandalism
PC 496(a) - Receiving Stolen Property
PC 487(a) – Grand Theft
PC 21810- Possess Metal Knuckles
HS 11377(a) - Possess Methamphetamine
HS 11364(a) - Possess Paraphernalia

In early May, rangers transported the redwood found during the search warrant to the poaching site. They were able to determine that redwood found at the residence came from the poaching site.

Criminal charges are pending. The investigation is still open.

Redwood National and State Parks contains 133,000 acres of federal and state land in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. Nearly 39% of the remaining old-growth redwood forest in the world is found within RNSP. The parks have experienced an increase in the illegal cutting and theft of old-growth coast redwood burls in recent years.

Burl poaching involves the cutting of burls from both live and dead trees, felling of living old-growth redwood trees to access burls from higher up the stem, and the cutting of down logs for ornamental furniture, veneer, and souvenirs. This uncontrolled and illegitimate harvesting of burls directly threatens individual old-growth redwoods, the prime resource of RNSP, a designated World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, and includes related impacts to the surrounding ecosystem, threatened and endangered species, and the parks’ scenic values.

Redwood National and State Parks urges anyone with information regarding this case or any redwood poaching within the parks to contact the park’s anonymous tip line at +1 707 465-7353.

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