Feds sound another pot farm warning

By the Associated Press

CREATED Apr. 18, 2012

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  • A marijuana plant. | Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The U.S. Forest Service is again warning hikers and campers to steer clear of pot farms this summer.

Chequamegon (sha-WAH'-ma-gone) -Nicolet National Forest officials say drug trafficking organizations typically plant farms in the spring and harvest their crop in the late summer.

They say the tell-tale signs of a farm include isolated tents, garden tools, bags of fertilizer, garbage, disturbed soil and cleared stumps.

Forestry officials say growers may be armed. Anyone who runs into any signs of a farm should leave, try to mark the location by landmarks or waypoints and notify law enforcement.

Police have eradicated about 80,000 marijuana plants in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest over the last two years.