Local News

Rangers buzzing about shocking crime at reservation after giant hornet’s nest used for research is stolen

"What may seem insignificant to you, may be the whole world to a wild friend."

Fresh Pond Reservation rangers are asking for the public's help, trying to locate a man who stole this hornets nest by sawing a limb off one of the reservation's trees. Screenshot

By Rosemary Ford

1 minute to read

Rangers at the city of Cambridge’s Fresh Pond Reservation are asking for the public’s help to find the man who stole a hornet’s nest intended for research, according to a post on the reservation’s Facebook page.

According to the statement, the man used his own saw to cut a branch off the hawthorn tree that held the nest on Saturday around 2:25 p.m.

The rangers said they had posted updates about the nest all season and intended to dissect it and preserve it for educational purposes.

Ranger Tim Puopolo told Cambridge Day that he intended to remove the nest this week, once temperatures had dropped enough to insure the proper hibernation of the queen. Most of the other members of the colony had likely died already, according to the ranger.

Advertisement:

Because of the location of the tree and nest, the theft was caught on the parking lot cameras, according to Cambridge Day.

In the Facebook post, rangers pointed out that the reservation belongs to the public and visitors should leave it as they find it.

“We remind everyone that Fresh Pond is for everyone and is not for holiday wreath-making, bouquet arrangements, or gathering of nuts, berries, and fungi. What may seem insignificant to you, may be the whole world to a wild friend,” according to the Facebook post.

Anyone with information about the theft should contact Puopolo at [email protected].

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com