Legality of taken Soil Samples certain places?

Question

I heard you can be fine for taking dirt or other particles , dead plants ,soil samples and to bring it back home.

Like I travel to Grand Canyon and want to bring back Spain for example. As to show that I was there ??

[Update] But how do the gift shops get away from selling the soil in the park. I don't get it.

Answer 1

And now for a different view...

First off, It is definitely illegal to remove any material (rocks, plants, historic artifacts) from a National Park or Monument. If a ranger sees you doing it, you WILL be fined. There is a famous story at Grand Canyon about a tourist who picked a wildflower, brought it over to a ranger and asked 'What type of flower is this?' and the ranger replied 'That's a $250 dollar flower' (ie: a fine for picking it).

This may seem draconian... after all what difference is just one rock or one flower or one old piece of pottery going to make? But people simply don't understand how many people visit the parks and what the impact of even small changes (multipled by many people over many years) can make. I grew up near the Petrified Forest National Park in northern Arizona and the impact of people removing small pieces of petrified wood over the decades is dramatic. You can compare historic pictures of the park in the 1920s compared to the same areas today and the amount of damage done and wood removed is very very visible and significantly decreased the uniqueness of the area - and it was all done one handful at a time.

As far as stores goes... I have NEVER seen any store or gift shop in a National Park or Monument that sells rocks or plants that were taken from the park itself. They may sell fossils, plants, sandstone coasters, etc taken from other legal collecting locations outside the park, but never from the park itself. Likewise, I have not even seen any items sold in shops outside the parks that claim the materials came from the park itself. For example, you can sell many shops selling fossil wood around the Petrified Forest, but they were all legally collected on surrounding private land.

When transporting soil and plant materials across long distances there is also the issue of microbal contamination - bringing molds, microbes and bacteria to new places where they can cause a great deal of damage to agriculture and eco-sytems in the new area. Many governments and customs organizations strictly limit transporting soil and plant material for this specific reason that has nothing to do with preserving park landscapes.

Now obviously, if you picked up a small loose marble-size pebble when nobody is looking, you are not likely to get in any trouble and the world is not going to come to end. But I have to ask... why? Part of enjoying a natural place is respecting it and helping protect it for future generations - just as previous generations have helped protect it for you. The mind frame of stealing something away from the park for your own private enjoyment goes against the whole philosophy that allowed the park to be created so that you could even visit it in the first place. Why not buy a t-shirt, book or poster that will help support the park rather than help damage it?

Take only pictures.... Leave only footprints

Answer 2

It's illegal in all National Parks in the USA, and many State Parks. Usually they have something of the type for sale in the gift shops.

My advice, if you choose to take a sample anyway is to just casually pick up a rock somewhere and slip it in your pocket. If anyone says anything about it, just say you didn't know, and ask if it would be alright since it is just a common rock. If they don't see you pick it up, claim it is from along the road outside of the park if they see it in your vehicle later.

I don't usually support illegal activities, but they go a little overboard on their laws meant to keep collectors from taking large amounts, valuable specimens, or destoying the scenery. There is no harm in taking a small peice of common rock from an inconspicuous place as a reminder of where you've been.

I've got samples from most National Parks west of the Mississippi. Some were with permission of friendly park rangers (but still not technically legal). Others required a little more stealth... and I don't wear a bra. Obsidian from Yellowstone was a tough one. They actively patrol the area it is in.

Samples in the shops:
Sometimes they claim it is taken from just outside the park, other times they have a permit. It's really a double standard, as if to say taking things from the park is okay as long as they get to profit from it, but if they don't get any money then it is destroying the natural beauty.

Answer 3

Its not illegal if you don't get caught.

They are pretty uptight about removing stuff from National Parks and government property. Its also not a good idea to take stuff from private property so be careful.

I smuggled some rocks in my bra once.

I guess the gift shops make a deal with the NPS.

Answer 4

Just do it. Just make sure there are no douchebag government employees looking! Nobody owns dirt!