Beware timber theft

For many years, a tree on my property on Washington Beach Road in Yulan, NY has had what arborists call a “burl.” For the uninitiated, a burl is defined as “a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds.”

I have for many seasons watched this burl grow, never dreaming I was not the only one who was interested. On Saturday, November 24, much to my surprise, I found it had been stolen. Using a chainsaw, the thief just chopped off the burl and drove away. After researching, I have found that stealing burls, as well as valuable lumber from private property, has become a cottage industry in rural New York State.

On eBay, the online auction, there are at least 50 instances of “tree burl,” all for sale.

Many items are plain and unfinished, known as “blanks.” Blanks can sell for up to hundreds of dollars, depending on the quality. Finished, turned products, those that a craftsman has fashioned into bowls, lamps, tables and other items easily sell for several hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars. Some sportsmen handcraft burls for grips on rifles and shotguns. Websites abound, teaching craftsmen the art of turning a burl. It is obvious that there is both a legal and illegal market for these burls.

My property on Washington Lake, a seasonal home I have owned for 45 years, is posted as it should be, but that didn’t deter this poacher. If southwestern Sullivan County has poachers who are willing to stand in the middle of public town roads with a chainsaw and steal from my property, I feel obliged to help find and prosecute these people. At the very least, I’d like to see them donate the proceeds from the sale of my burl to Saint Anthony’s Church of Yulan, NY.

In closing, I’d like to ask people in Sullivan County to be aware of these thieves and to report any timber poaching to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), so an investigation into this budding business can be initiated. Now is the time to act, to find these poachers who use eBay and the Internet to get the best price for poached lumber and finished items. I have included below the website and the mailing address for the DEC, where you can lodge your complaint. Like any issue, a seemingly small complaint, lodged by a number of different people in the same general area, may help find these thieves.

[Joseph Gordon is a resident of Yulan, NY.]

To report timber theft:

New York State DEC

Mail: Lands & Forests, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4253

Phone: 518/402-9425

Email: lflands@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Website: dec.ny.gov/lands/38969.html