Significant Galax Poaching Convictions

On Saturday, February 16th, rangers arrested several people engaged in poaching galax along the parkway. The section of the parkway between its junction with NC State Highway 80 and Mt. Mitchell State Park has historically been an area heavily impacted by commercial galax poachers. Special operations to detect, track and apprehend those involved in this activity have been on-going, conducted cooperatively with the Forest Service since the poaching has been occurring on both agencies’ lands. A total of ten people were arrested, with several more seen but eluding contact. Over 50,000 galax plants were seized. The ten appeared before a federal magistrate in Asheville between February 19th and 26th. Two were juveniles and were cited and released. Five of the remaining eight pled guilty; each was sentenced to 30 days in jail, required to pay a stiff fine, and banned from federal lands for two years. Two more requested a continuance and will be heard in April, and one was sentenced to six months in jail for conspiracy. Galax, once gathered, is sold to nearby galax warehouses, where leaves are in turn sold to local florists for flower arrangements and also exported for the same purpose (galax brings anywhere from a penny to five cents a leaf). Park and USFS lands have been severely impacted by these poachers, to the point where significant, healthy galax populations are diminishing or have completely disappeared. The majority of those cited or arrested are undocumented Hispanic immigrants who gather the plant as a means to gain immediate employment and income. Although permits to collect galax may be issued through the Forest Service during particular months, investigation has revealed that most of those contacted with a permit are in violation by either being on NPS lands or not in compliance with the conditions of the permit. Galax poachers are beginning to move north along the parkway due to the diminishing take in the highly impacted area, high officer presence and the severe penalties levied. The support of federal magistrates and U.S. attorneys in the Western District of North Carolina has made a definite impact. Investigations are continuing, as galax poaching is highly organized and continuing to increase. Rangers and officers from the USFS, Yancey and Buncombe County Sheriff's Offices, and Mt. Mitchell State Park officers assisted with the apprehension, investigation and transportation.