‘There is miles of graffiti’: Zion, Dixie Forest rangers report vandalism
Sep 24, 2020, 8:41 AM | Updated: Sep 26, 2020, 11:12 am
A rash of graffiti and vandalism has been reported at national parks and other recreation areas in Utah. (PHOTO: Zion National Park, courtesy of KSL TV's Sean Moody.)
(PHOTO: Zion National Park, courtesy of KSL TV's Sean Moody.)
ST. GEORGE, Utah — A rash of graffiti and vandalism has been reported at national parks and other recreation areas in Utah.
On the lookout for vandalism
Park rangers say beyond their normal job duties and additional COVID-19 safety enforcement, they’ve been forced to keep a sharp lookout for vandals.
“I have seen more graffiti than I have ever seen before,” says Zion National Park chief ranger Daniel Fagergren. “It’s all over, and we’re trying to get ahead of it.”
A potential price to pay
The Bureau of Land Management also warns against trying to remove graffiti or vandalism yourself saying that it could cause more damage.
“Please do not attempt to remove it yourself,” the BLM wrote on Facebook.
“In many cases, graffiti near ancient petroglyphs or pictographs is very difficult to remove and requires specialized training to avoid further damage to the site.”
They say in many cases removal needs to be done by restoration experts in order to minimize any more damage to be done to the area.
“Well intentioned people who attempt to remove graffiti can cause permanent damage to cultural and archeological sites, and removing graffiti yourself is tampering with a crime scene that can hamper an investigation.”
3. LET US Remove It.
If you find graffiti on BLM lands, please do not attempt to remove it yourself. In many cases,…
Posted by Bureau of Land Management – Utah on Friday, August 14, 2020
