Vandalism on federal lands isn’t limited to hoodlums and miscreants these days, it’s becoming commonplace, according to information provided by the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest of northeast Oregon.
Recently, an outraged visitor on the Deschutes National Forest watched as a family of three etched their names into a railing at Tumalo Falls. A photo of the trio in action – in which the daughter flashed a peace sign – went viral on the internet.
Vandalism on large and small scales is a constant problem on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, and visitors suffer the consequences. Repairing and replacing damaged facilities eats up funds that could be used for maintenance or improvements, according to the forest.
Damaging a federal resource carries a fine of $5,000 and up to six months incarceration, plus the cost of repairing or replacing the damage.
What should you do if you see someone vandalizing federal lands? You don’t have to confront someone to take action. Get a good description of the location, the nature of the vandalism, individual(s) and their vehicle(s), and report it to Forest Service personnel or local law enforcement. A picture is worth a thousand words, so if you can take pictures inconspicuously, do so.
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I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, producer of this blog, and passionate about hiking. I live in Western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my door, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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