- October 3, 2024
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Palmetto berries on Flagler County public lands might be tempting to pick, but county ordinance forbids it.
“It’s palmetto berry season, which means it is the time of year when we see people on the side of roadways and in our parks to pick the berries. I received my first call of the year about palmetto berry picking at MalaCompra a week ago, and our parks staff called a deputy for palmetto berry poachers at River to Sea Preserve today,” said Flagler County Public Lands and Natural Resource Manager Mike Lagassé. “While some private property owners allow the harvesting of the berries with permission, picking palmetto berries is not allowed on Flagler County owned or managed preserves and parks.”
The berries are sold for use in dietary supplements, typically to treat urinary and reproductive problems associated with an enlarged prostate gland.
Flagler County ordinance also prohibits the removal of soil, rock, sand, stones, trees, shrubs, plants, or wood materials. Violators can expect to pay a penalty of up to $500.
“Palmetto berry harvesting activities reduce the amount of food available for wildlife and can create unwanted trails and debris on our public lands,” Lagassé said. “These berry pickers are working in hazardous conditions damaging our parks and interrupting food sources for our native wildlife and out of county private companies profit off of it.”
This palmetto berry harvesting has in the past been problematic for private property owners and for the county’s many natural areas including MalaCompra Park, River-to-Sea Preserve, and Varn Park in northeastern Flagler County. Other areas of concern include Haw Creek Preserve, Princess Place Preserve, Shell Bluff, and Betty Steflik Preserve.
“People might say they have permission to pick the berries, but this is absolutely untrue of Flagler County public lands. It is protected and an important wildlife food,” Lagassé said. “There are no licenses in effect for individuals to harvest palmetto berries from county-owned properties.”
Those who suspect they have seen someone harvesting palmetto berries on county-owned property, are asked to report it to Lagassé at 386-313-4064 or call the Flagler County Sheriff’s non-emergency number, 386-313-4911.
