COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife has raised $51,542 through the auction of illegally possessed ginseng and yellow root. The funds, collected from the sale of 59.7 pounds of ginseng and 3.1 pounds of yellow root, will be added to the state’s Wildlife Diversity Fund, supporting conservation projects for species in need, such as sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, and lake sturgeon.
The auction featured 23 lots of ginseng and one lot of yellow root, with ginseng averaging $861.52 per pound and yellow root at $35.16 per pound. The roots were confiscated from criminal cases across 20 Ohio counties since February 2021.
American ginseng, a slow-growing perennial herb, is highly valued for its medicinal properties. Ohio has implemented a ginseng management program to maintain the wild ginseng population. Harvest and trade regulations are guided by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Division of Wildlife.
In Ohio, ginseng can only be harvested from September 1 to December 31, with limitations on mature plants, replanting of seeds, and required permissions. The Division of Wildlife regulates the harvest and sale of ginseng in Ohio, requiring permits for resale or export and certification before export.
Ohio wildlife officers and investigators enforce ginseng harvest and sale laws statewide, ensuring the proper management and preservation of the plant.