Thieves Are Making Off With Olympic National Forest's Rarest Trees

This article delves into the world of timber poaching in Washington's Olympic National Forest, focusing on the criminal ring led by Justin Wilke, who targeted rare bigleaf maple trees. The story highlights how law enforcement used innovative DNA matching techniques to convict Wilke and others involved in the theft and illegal sale of these valuable trees. The article also explores the broader issue of timber poaching in the U.S., its economic impact, and the ecological consequences of such thefts.