By Ben Romans

The recent discovery of vandalism within Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona has some officials concerned. They worry the incident is part of a thrill-seeking trend to deface national parks and monuments across the country. Rangers said the latest episode involves at least 45 spray-painted graffiti tags brandished on landmarks throughout the park—including 16 of the park’s famous 150-year old saguaro cacti.
 
A New York Times article says that in a similar incident late last year, officials had to clean graffiti from the remote Twin Owls formation in Rocky Mountain National Park, and more recently, the Rattlesnake Canyon in Joshua Tree National Park was closed to clean graffiti from the canyon walls. What remains unclear is the motive behind the acts.
 
“In the old days,” said Lorna Lange, the spokeswoman for Joshua Tree, “people would paint something on a rock—it wouldn’t be till someone else came along that someone would report it and anybody would know about it. With social media people take pictures of what they’ve done or what they’ve seen. It’s much more instantaneous.”
 
So far, the person (or persons) responsible for the crimes in Saguaro are unknown, but authorities aren’t giving up hope. In fact, two cactus-choppers were already busted in Saguaro this year when photos taken from a trail camera were broadcast throughout Tuscon.

Photo from kgun9.com

Comments (6)

from RockySquirrel wrote 1 week 1 day ago

This may be a GOOD thing. When I was in Arizona, people were digging up these plants to sell to developers for big $$. What developer will buy a cactus that has been graffiti’ed. I hate this stuff more than anyone, but it is better to have a painted cactus than 1 sold to a slimy developer or died in transit.

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from wisc14 wrote 1 week 1 day ago

the vandals had better hope that I never catch them in the act. same with those who find it necessary to dump garbage (usually beer cans or cigarette related trash) on public lands

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from Happy Myles wrote 1 week 1 day ago

What a sad state of affairs and it does not appear to be an isolated case.

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from ozarkghost wrote 1 week 1 day ago

Let the punishment fit the crime and have them clean up the tags and then hug the cacti in apology.

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from rock rat wrote 1 week 1 day ago

The Twin Owls mentioned by the NYT isn't actually remote and isn't actually in the park. It's a half hour walk above Estes Park on Lumpy Ridge. Looks like the base of Silly Putty 12a (x)

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from tleichty1989 wrote 1 week 21 hours ago

Its sad that they cant find value in Gods work. Whats worse is that they ruin it for everyone else. We find God in nature. What happens when nature looks like Detroit's city streets?

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from ozarkghost wrote 1 week 1 day ago

Let the punishment fit the crime and have them clean up the tags and then hug the cacti in apology.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from wisc14 wrote 1 week 1 day ago

the vandals had better hope that I never catch them in the act. same with those who find it necessary to dump garbage (usually beer cans or cigarette related trash) on public lands

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Happy Myles wrote 1 week 1 day ago

What a sad state of affairs and it does not appear to be an isolated case.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from rock rat wrote 1 week 1 day ago

The Twin Owls mentioned by the NYT isn't actually remote and isn't actually in the park. It's a half hour walk above Estes Park on Lumpy Ridge. Looks like the base of Silly Putty 12a (x)

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from tleichty1989 wrote 1 week 21 hours ago

Its sad that they cant find value in Gods work. Whats worse is that they ruin it for everyone else. We find God in nature. What happens when nature looks like Detroit's city streets?

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from RockySquirrel wrote 1 week 1 day ago

This may be a GOOD thing. When I was in Arizona, people were digging up these plants to sell to developers for big $$. What developer will buy a cactus that has been graffiti’ed. I hate this stuff more than anyone, but it is better to have a painted cactus than 1 sold to a slimy developer or died in transit.

-1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

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