Nature Offers Clues For A Crime

As a nature lover, I am always fascinated to find out what it wants to teach us. For instance, it can hide clues that are pertinent to a crime if you know what to look for and where to look.

We tend to think of crimes being committed indoors. But that does not always happen and that means you need specialists to enter the equation with their expertise. That might include a forensic botanist.

I didn’t even realize such careers are part of the offerings to students interested in varying forms or extensions of criminology. However, it does make sense that a specialist in plants would be valuable as would one who studies natural growth and the medium they call home.

So when it comes to crime, law enforcement can benefit heavily from their input. They can help to pin down things like time of death when the remains have been affected by plant life or other soil organisms.

For example, root growth in general or the thickness of roots can tell its own story. These specialists can also often locate a likely place where there might be something suspicious in the soil.

On the surface, soil looks disturbed when a body is planted below. This disturbance creates greater growth since moisture, air and light have been added to the soil. And sometimes there is more than one location that needs to be investigated.

That can prove likely when plant growth comes off on some of the items at the crime scene or even clamps to the investigators which shows it has a bearing on solving the crime.

Just another fascinating fact that nature presents if we know how to read the signs. And it might present another possibility to someone who enjoys nature too and is looking for a career that makes a difference.