- Authorities are searching for two men who toppled several ancient rocks in a Nevada national park.
- The two men were filmed in a video that went viral.
- The Red Stones of Lake Mead State Park are among the most popular destinations in this massive recreation area.
Visitors to a popular rock site in Lake Mead State Park are being tracked by federal authorities after they seriously damaged a formation at the Nevada hiking site.
Authorities say the damage occurred last weekend on the lake’s north shore, where petrified red dunes make it one of the park’s busiest areas.
Video taken by a witness to the event shows two men working hard to push large chunks of loose rock from the edge of an outcropping.
The video was sent to the National Park Service.
A little girl, the daughter of one of the men, stands behind them, horrified, and screams intermittently as the rocks fall.
Authorities are searching for two men who toppled several ancient rocks in a Nevada national park.
“Daddy, don’t fall,” she shouts as the two men struggle to push the bolder pieces over the edge and watch them shatter as they crash into the cliffside .
Authorities called this behavior extremely damaging, noting that ancient stones cannot be repaired.
John Haynes, the park’s public information officer, told KVVU, “It’s one of my favorite places in the park and they’re up there destroying it.” I do not understand that.
“Why would you do something like that?” Like, why the hell would you do that? In a way, it almost feels like a personal attack,” he added.
Destruction of this degree and quality on federally protected sites can result in criminal charges that could result in fines and prison time.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, located just outside Las Vegas, welcomes approximately 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 monitor certain park sites.
“It’s 1.5 million acres. We have two large lakes, part of the Colorado River. It’s becoming quite difficult, given our numbers, 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 monitor certain park sites.
The men face fines and prison sentences due to their destructive behavior.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, located just outside of Las Vegas, welcomes approximately 6 million visitors each year.
Visitors are encouraged to use their cell phones, if safe to do so, to record what they see and gather information – such as license plate numbers – that could help officers identify violators.
“You don’t have to involve people. Many people don’t feel safe engaging others, and that’s okay. It’s really important to let us know,” Haynes said.
Years ago, two Boy Scout leaders who toppled an ancient rock in Utah were charged with crimes and forced to pay restitution after their harmful shenanigans were caught on camera.
dailymail us
