2 Accused Of Stealing 600 Venus Fly Trap Plants

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Two people are accused of stealing nearly 600 Venus flytraps. It happened last month at a nature conservancy near Wilmington. Someone reported seeing two people digging up the plants. They were later found at a nearby gas station. Police reportedly found the plants in their backpacks.

The rare Venus flytrap is native to North Carolina, and stealing them is a felony. Authorities say people often dig them up and sell them on the black market. NC Wildlife Resources Commission Sgt. Matt Criscoe says, “They’re an odd plant, people like to dig them and resell them either on the black market or even locally, sometimes.”

Authorities say the plants begin to bud flowers this time of year, and that makes them easier for thieves to find.