A new crime trend is taking "root" in Ohio. It involves a plant called American Ginseng, and it can be quite lucrative for thieves.
“I know last year it was up to $850 a pound, dry,” says Officer Jeff Berry with the Ohio Division of Wildlife in the Department of Natural Resources. “It was going for $250 a pound wet,” he adds, referring to the ginseng root that is sought out by diggers – legal and illegal.
Ohio is one of 19 states that allow people to harvest, sell, and buy ginseng. The root is traditionally used in eastern medicine. ODNR was once quoted saying the Buckeye State ranks fourth in the country when it comes to selling ginseng to China.
“Majority of it gets exported to Asia,” Berry said. “They use it for medicinal use. Some people buy stems and leaves. Now, all they want is the root.”
Berry said when ginseng was at an all time high, a pound of the dried-out root would go for upwards of $1500 a pound. And even though the price has dropped some in recent years, the number of reports related to ginseng received by law enforcement has gone up since 2015.
Crimes can include trespassing to harvest ginseng, premature harvesting out of season, failure to keep records of sales and purchases of ginseng or knowingly providing false information to obtain a permit.
According to the ODNR’s Division of Wildlife, five Ohio counties top arrests for ginseng-related crimes. Muskingum topped the list at 142, followed by Adams, Highland, Hocking and Coshocton.
“We see people backing in to our wildlife areas from around Ohio and beyond,” Berry said. “They just pull off the road."
In 2012, a ginseng poacher was killed while trespassing onto someone’s private property. But Berry says not all ginseng diggers violate Ohio law. He says some families have hunted ginseng for generations, like his. Others use the money generated from ginseng sales to provide for their families or Christmas gifts.
That’s why the state operates a ginseng management program.
“Our goal is to achieve and maintain a sustained yield of harvest, so the harvesting of the plant is not detrimental to the survival, that’s our main goal,” he said.
You can report a suspicious person or vehicle on the side of the road if you suspect it's related to this crime. "Turn in Poacher" is a program designed to help people report wildlife violations. Just call the tip hotline 1-800 POACHER or click here.
Click here to get an introduction on ginseng in Ohio.