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Two accused of poaching hundreds of Venus fly traps from nature conservancy land

T. Howard
/
Carolina Beach State Park
The meat-eating plants are native to the region and only grow within a 100-mile radius of Wilmington, and stealing them is considered a felony.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has accused two people of stealing nearly 600 Venus flytraps from nature conservancy land in southeastern North Carolina.

The meat-eating plants are native to the region and only grow within a 100-mile radius of Wilmington, and stealing them is considered a felony.

Officers got a call in mid-February about two people digging for flytraps in Boiling Spring Lakes in Brunswick County, and found the suspects at a nearby gas station.

A search of their backpacks showed evidence that they dug up more than 590 plants illegally.

The names of the suspects won’t be released until arrest warrants are served.

Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.