- Authorities are hunting a pair of men who toppled several ancient rocks in a Nevada national park.
- The two men were caught on camera in a video that is now going viral.
- The red stones of Lake Mead National Park are some of the most popular destinations in this huge recreational area.
Federal authorities are tracking visitors to a popular rock site in Lake Mead National Park after severely damaging a formation at the Nevada hiking site.
Officials say the damage occurred last weekend on the north side of the lake, where petrified red dunes make it one of the busiest areas of the park.
A video taken by a witness of the event shows two men working hard to push large chunks of loose rock from the edge of an outcrop.
The video was sent to the National Park Service.
A girl, the daughter of one of the men, stands behind them, horrified, screaming intermittently as the rocks fall.
Authorities are hunting a pair of men who toppled several ancient rocks in a Nevada national park.
“Dad, don’t fall,” he shouts as the two men work to push the bolder parts over the edge and watch them break as they tumble down the side of the cliff.
Authorities have called the behavior extremely damaging and noted that ancient stones cannot be repaired.
John Haynes, public information officer for the park, said kvvu: ‘It’s one of my favorite places in the park and they’re there destroying it. I don’t understand.’
‘Why would you do something like this? Why on earth would you do this? “This almost feels like a personal attack in a way,” she added.
Destruction of this degree and quality at federally protected sites can result in felony charges that can carry fines and jail time.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, located just outside Las Vegas, receives about 6 million visitors each year.
Park staff cannot be physically present throughout the entire 2,344-square-mile area, meaning they sometimes rely on the public to keep an eye on some of the park’s sites.
‘It’s 1.5 million acres. We have two large lakes, a piece of the Colorado River. Because of the level of our staff, it is quite difficult to be everywhere at the same time,” Haynes said.
The National Park Service operates a tip line that receives thousands of submissions each year.
Park staff cannot be physically present throughout the entire 2,344-square-mile area, meaning they sometimes rely on the public to keep an eye on some of the park’s sites.
Men can face fines and jail time due to their destructive behavior.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, located just outside Las Vegas, receives about 6 million visitors each year.
Visitors are encouraged to use their mobile phones, if it is safe to do so, to record what they see and collect information, such as license plate numbers, that could help officers identify criminals.
‘It is not necessary to involve people. Many people don’t feel safe getting involved with other people, and that’s okay. It’s very important to let us know,” Haynes said.
Years ago, two Boy Scout leaders who tore down an ancient rock in Utah were charged with felonies and forced to pay restitution after their damaging antics were caught on camera.