Illegal growing operations

Visitors to the Idaho Panhandle National Forest are asked by police to keep their eyes for illegal marijuana growing operations.

People who encounter marijuana gardens or other illegal drug manufacturing should note the location and description of what they saw before leaving the area immediately to contact Forest Service officers or nearest county sheriff.

Marijuana gardeners commonly carry firearms to protect their crop investment. Marijuana gardens also can be booby trapped to scare off or harm those who wander into the gardens.

Clues that can alert forest visitors to illegal drug cultivation activity include tool caches, garbage dumps, fertilizer, pesticides, potting soil, irrigation tubing, watering cans, moss or plastic potting cups or chicken wire.

To report illegal marijuana growing operations call 765-7316.