Sticky-fingered thieves have been pilfering the sap from Maine鈥檚 maple trees. According to the state鈥檚 Forest Service rangers, there has been a . The thieves typically trespass on private property to tap the trees with a spout and bucket, then steal away into the night with gallons of sweet liquid gold. “It could be that landowners are more willing to contact us,鈥 鈥淏ut it also may be that more people are venturing out into the woods to try their hand at this.鈥
Syrup production peaks between late February and mid-April, when conditions are right for the extraction of sap for making maple syrup, which sells for roughly $50 per gallon.
Last year, thieves in Canada made off with nearly $20 million in syrup from a Quebec warehouse, temporarily driving up global prices of the pancake aid.
Illegal tapping is often harmful to trees. According to Liba, thieves commonly use oversize drill bits for their tap holes, which leaves the trees more susceptible to decay and disease. Badly damaged trees will often end up as firewood or industrial pulp. So far only one thief has been caught in the act and is working with the landowner out of court to determine the appropriate level of remuneration.