Some of Arizona's famed saguaro cactuses soon will be more difficult to steal.  Saguaro Park officials plan to inject microchips in some of their prickly plants to deter thieves.  The idea came after thieves stole 17 saguaros in January 2007, the second big theft in recent years.  The micro chips are similar to those implanted in dogs and cats, and are about the size of a grain of rice.  They plan to inject the cactuses within a year.  The chips will help investigate thefts and they hope it will act as a deterrent.  The cactuses that would get the chips are the smaller plants, about 4 to 7 feet tall and are near the road.  The chips cost about $4.50 each, and the chip readers can range in cost from about $600 to $2500.    As an Arizona native, I am all for this effort to proptect the cactuses.  They are are big representation of our great state and plucking them out of their natural habitat is horrible.   I want visitors who come to our state to enjoy this wonder in all it's splender.

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