Feds to use computer chips to foil cactus thieves
By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN – 2 days ago
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Anyone thinking of swiping a stately saguaro cactus from the desert could soon be hauling off more than just a giant plant.
National Park Service officials plan to imbed microchips in Arizona’s signature plant to protect them from thieves who rip them from the desert to sell them to landscapers, nurseries and homeowners.
The primary objective is deterrence, but the chips also will aid in tracking down and identifying stolen saguaros, said Bob Love, chief ranger at southern Arizona’s Saguaro National Park. Read full article…
