Reward offered in timber theft probe

The Bureau of Land Management continues to seek information in one of the worst cases of timber theft the Coeur d'Alene Field Office has seen. Several green Douglas fir trees on public land were illegally cut and removed in the vicinity of the West Fork of Pine Creek and the Jackass Creek Bridge south of Pinehurst. Other trees were also cut but left leaning, creating a public safety hazard. Officials believe the incident occurred during the week of Nov. 11. "No one has been apprehended, but tips continue to be investigated," said Kurt Pavlat, BLM's Coeur d'Alene manager. The BLM estimates the total value of timber lost is more than $20,000. "This is one of the worst and most blatant green tree firewood thefts our forestry staff has seen," Pavlat said. In addition, natural resources were damaged by trees being cut in riparian areas or dragged across fish-bearing streams...MORE