In one sense birch is the new black — it's very trendy now. Birch poles are stuck in pots for decoration in malls and hotels, especially around Christmas. Many stores use birch in window ...

Lawrence, who had no permit to cut trees on public property, told Fredin that he was cutting small-diameter birch poles to sell to a Wisconsin man. Lawrence said he had been cutting in the same ...

The small birch poles are sold to wholesalers who then move them along to buyers for both online and retail store sales. Birch poles have become popular indoor decorations for homes and events ...

The complaint filed in St. Louis County District Court alleges that David Lawrence, with the help of two other men, spent about three days in the woods cutting the small diameter birch poles that ...

Wholesale buyers are posting birch-wanted ads on Craigslist, paying between $1 and $3 per pole. It's clear there's a market for the product - mostly small birch saplings, about two inches in ...

Lawrence, who had no permit to cut trees on public property, told Fredin that he was cutting small-diameter birch poles to sell to a Wisconsin man. At least 100 birch had been cut that day ...

Lawrence, who had no permit to cut trees on public property, told Fredin that he was cutting small-diameter birch poles to sell to a Wisconsin man. At least 100 birch had been cut that day ...

Those decorations might include some illegally cut birch poles as well. That kind of illegal cutting of spruce tops and birch poles remains common across Minnesota and Wisconsin forests these days.

Those decorations might include some illegally cut birch poles as well. That kind of illegal cutting of spruce tops and birch poles remains common across Minnesota and Wisconsin forests these days ...