High Tech Cactus - thieves beware; Saguaros to get microchips

by World_Groove | August 18, 2008 at 08:39 pm

2415 views | 18 Recommendations | 38 comments

Under development

This is a huge problem in Arizona and even down in Mexico.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Some of Arizona's famed saguaro cactuses soon will be more difficult to steal than avoiding those pesky needles.

Saguaro National Park officials plan to inject microchips in some of their prickly plants to deter thieves. The idea came after thieves stole 17 saguaros in January 2007, the second big theft in recent years.

Park Ranger Bob Love said the microchips are similar to those implanted in dogs and cats, and are about the size of a grain of rice. They likely will be injected into the cactuses within a year, he said.

Love said the chips will help investigate thefts, but officials hope that they will act as a deterrent.

The cactuses that would get the chips are smaller - about 4 to 7 feet tall - and are near roads. Thieves target those because of their accessibility and lighter weight.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service puts the chips in shed elk antlers near Jackson Hole, Wyo., where picking up antlers is illegal, and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area uses them in some of their cactuses, Love said.

The chips cost about $4.50 each, and chip readers cost about $600 for handheld models and $2,500 for larger, more accurate ones.

Love said the park would likely buy one of the more accurate readers for each of two districts in the park and several handheld units.

An affordable high tech solution. Sound like something which should be within reach of the average consumer soon. Can you imagine being able to mark all of your items with micro chips. Insurance companies should latch onto the idea, and lower rates for those who do it.

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Uwe Paschen

at 04:28 on August 19th, 2008

Well, they Micro ship every thing now, Lobster. Wales, soon Human will be Micro Shipped as well!

quepasakoolj18

at 13:38 on August 19th, 2008

So my friend Lamb the other asked me if I could take some nice pictures of her mom. I said sure since I thought it was just going to be a few close by. However, her mom pretty much wanted me to take a bunch of different poses of her out in the middle of the desert. She drove us all the way past the Desert Museum out to a monument surrounded by Saguaros which was very beautiful!

She wanted me to take these pictures because her boyfriend is off to California for a couple of months, so she wanted to send him some pictures, especially of the new purple necklace he bought her.

So, I guess in essence this was my first photoshoot! Woot! 20 dollars richer ;)

quepasakoolj18 has contributed a photo to this story.

quepasakoolj18

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:40 on August 19th, 2008

World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff.

naybeth (not verified)

at 14:37 on August 19th, 2008

Hi, my name is naybeth Díaz, aka thehost1, You told me to rovide the picture from the cactus so here I leave my oppinion, Sure, I just google it ;) so, it's interesting about your cactus research. I'll be aware of that THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

midwinter

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:54 on August 19th, 2008

World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff.

swakt1

at 16:06 on August 19th, 2008

I took this on a hike with my friend from Arizona. I was happy to see that I caught the mourning dove in the frame... I thought that I'd missed it.

Stephen Clancy

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:29 on August 19th, 2008

World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Fantartsy

at 16:30 on August 19th, 2008

I am honored to have been invited to share my photo with NowPublic for this worthy cause. Protecting our precious saguaros against thieves and vandals is something I always wanted to do. They only grow in the Sonoran desert and mainly in Arizona. Thank you for allowing me to participate. JJ /Fantartsy

widowmkr

at 16:41 on August 19th, 2008

This great old growth Saguaro lives just North of Casa Grande AZ by the freeway. It is truly an amazing cactus!

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susteph

at 17:13 on August 19th, 2008

Photography by Suzanne Stephenson

susteph has contributed a photo to this story.

julianw

at 17:18 on August 19th, 2008

Another day, another cyborg.

mshhoward

at 17:58 on August 19th, 2008

Gotta get this thumbnail photo fixed? >?>

mshhoward has contributed a photo to this story.

m.bagen

at 18:20 on August 19th, 2008

Regarding the photo: The plant on the left is a living Saguaro cactus. The cactus to its right is a dead one. The thing splits into several dried stalks when it dies. It reminded me of driftwood.

m.bagen has contributed a photo to this story.

Storm-in-Arizona

at 18:20 on August 19th, 2008

This foto was taken in the Superstition Wildnerness Area ou

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xwarrior26

at 18:23 on August 19th, 2008

Beautiful Saguaro Cactus during sunset on the way up to Mt. Lemmon - Tucson, AZ

xwarrior26 has contributed a photo to this story.

RickyRussell

at 18:59 on August 19th, 2008

Saguaro on the shores of Lake Barlett near Phoenix, Arizona - May 08

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backlitcoyote

at 20:09 on August 19th, 2008

I took these photos in the western part of Saguaro National Park, in May when the cactuses are blooming. It's great that they're getting microchips. Most saguaros don't wear clothes, so they don't have any pockets for carrying traditional forms of ID, such as a driver's license.

backlitcoyote has contributed a photo to this story.

demonbaby

at 20:12 on August 19th, 2008

Saguaro Park West is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been, and I feel lucky that it is just right down the road. I would hate to see this area change.

demonbaby has contributed a photo to this story.

PresidioGary

at 20:28 on August 19th, 2008

I photographed this majestic saguaro on the grounds of the Saguaro National Park (West), in Tucson, Arizona. In my opinion, this is the king of all cacti, and worth seeing up close, if you have the chance.

PresidioGary has contributed a photo to this story.

christiakh

at 20:41 on August 19th, 2008

photo: Christiana Harms

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kjgriffin

at 21:56 on August 19th, 2008

Sadly, the larger (more profitable) ones don't survive transplantation well, either.

kjgriffin has contributed a photo to this story.

Bitson Photography

at 22:19 on August 19th, 2008

Saguaro Cactus taken during a sunset in beautiful Tucson, AZ. -Andrew Bitson

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ScenicSW

at 23:17 on August 19th, 2008

Photo was taken in the Tucson Mountain Park, looking west as monsoon clouds roll into Avra Valley.

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roseladybiker

at 05:56 on August 20th, 2008

Photo taken in the Saguaro National Park on 7/18/08

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MichaM

at 07:35 on August 20th, 2008

Though I live very near one of the parks, I had not heard of this before. I am, however, not surprised by the thefts as Saguaros really are quite pricey and do take a while to grow - 75 years to first bloom and 100 years before they branch. They are such an amazing species. I hope this effort does curb the theft. From what I understand, the survival rate for transplanted mature Saguaros isn't all that high.

MichaM has contributed a photo to this story.