Centuries-old juniper tree stolen from Badlands Wilderness

Federal officials say whoever cut down and hauled off a large old-growth juniper tree at a popular wilderness trailhead east of Bend may have committed a federal crime, and they are seeking tips to find the culprit.

The tree was taken earlier this month from the Flatiron Rock Trailhead in the 30,000-acre Badlands Wilderness Area, about 16 miles east of Bend off U.S. Highway 20.

So far, Bureau of Land Management officials have not turned up any leads as to who took the tree. BLM spokeswoman Lisa Clark said the tree was still standing the evening of Dec. 4, but was gone the next day.

Someone apparently backed a truck up to the tree, cut it down and hauled it away, leaving the stump, Clark said.

“We have had about 12 calls from people visiting the parking lot since it happened, so it was easily noticed by the regular users,” she said. “Very unfortunate – cool old tree.”

The BLM considers junipers to be old-growth if they are more than 150 years old, and Clark said this tree likely was several hundred years old.

Logging or cutting down trees is illegal in wilderness areas, wilderness study areas or at trailheads. Before the U.S. Congress designated the Badlands in 2009 as wilderness, it was a wilderness study area.

Back in 2004, someone cut down about 20 old-growth junipers about a quarter-mile from the highway.

While some see junipers as simply water-thirsty invasive weeds, the Oregon Natural Desert Association in Bend said they are important wildlife habitat and not invasive in such areas.

Punishment for such tree removals can include a fine of up to $100,000 and up to a year in jail. Anyone with information about the felled juniper was asked to contact the BLM in Prineville at 541-416-6700 during office hours and ask for law enforcement.