As We See It

PLZ don’t deface nature KTHX

Image
Holiday-time visitors in Las Vegas may enjoy a hike at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Sunday, December 20, 2015.
Photo: L.E. Baskow

Don’t deface nature. It’s outdoor etiquette 101, but judging by a rash of vandalism in the Southwest, it seems city slickers need to be reminded.

Valentine’s Day weekend ended sourly for actress Vanessa Hudgens and her boyfriend, Austin Butler, who are now under federal investigation after posting a photo on Instagram of their heart-outlined names scratched into a rock in Sedona, Arizona. And, a year after French street artist Mr. Andre was busted for tagging on a rock in Joshua Tree, California, the national park closed two areas this week due to vandalism and theft.

While carving on a rock or tree might seem sentimental, it’s disrespectful to the land and other visitors and—if neither of those faze you—it’s illegal in protected areas, punishable by jail time and hefty fines. Hudgens faces up to six months in jail and $5,000 in fines. And don’t forget the 2010 incident at Red Rock Canyon, when ancient panels of rock art were graffitied. According to the Las Vegas Sun, that crime carried a possible jail sentence of five years and a fine up to $100,000 (not to mention the estimated $10,000 in restoration).

Plus, this dumbassery is contagious. “We have found that when one person carves something, it encourages others to carve,” Coconino National Forest spokesman Brady Smith told CNN. “Carving of any kind affects the natural beauty of the area.”

So please, save your initials for contracts.

Tags: Opinion
Share
Top of Story