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Graffiti Clowns Vandalize Joshua Tree National Park

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Published Date

February 25, 2020
Graffiti has turned up in several areas of Joshua Tree National Park. This is in Rattlesnake Canyon/NPS, Ben Theisen

Graffiti has turned up in several areas of Joshua Tree National Park. This is in Rattlesnake Canyon/NPS, Ben Theisen

Graffiti clowns have been frequent visitors this year to Joshua Tree National Park, where they wielded cans of spray paint and other tools to vandalize areas of the park.

There have been a number of cases since January where graffiti has turned up in places such as Rattlesnake Canyon, the Skull Rock Nature Trail, and along Geo Tour Road. 

"Joshua Tree National Park belongs to all of us. Using paint or chisels on rocks and trees destroys the beauty we are trying to protect in our parks," said Joshua Tree Superintendent David Smith in a release issued Tuesday. "It is our hope that anyone with knowledge of these incidents will come forward so that we can eliminate future problems. It is illegal to deface any of the resources in the park."

Anyone with information about these incidents, or the persons involved, should contact the park’s law enforcement staff by emailing the chief ranger at [email protected]. 

Joshua Tree officials are asking for help from visitors who spot graffiti or any other form of vandalism; they can call the park or email [email protected]. The park also relies heavily on the efforts of volunteers to patrol areas of the park. Park volunteers help with a variety of essential tasks, including staffing park visitor centers, managing campgrounds, and helping clean up graffiti. Opportunities are available on volunteer.gov. Most volunteer opportunities are best-suited for people who can provide long-term time commitment to the park.  

Vandals also hit Joshua Tree, which straddles the geographic divide in California that splits the Mojave Desert from an element of the Sonoran Desert, in January 2019 during the partial government shutdown, when they cut down at least one Joshua tree and drove out of bounds into the desert.

If you know Dess or Kris, the rangers at Joshua Tree National Park would like to talk to you/NPS, Ben Theisen

If you know Dess or Kris, the rangers at Joshua Tree National Park would like to talk to you/NPS, Ben Theisen

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Comments

Submitted by Chip Beaudette on February 25, 2020 - 7:57pm.

People that do 'stuff' like this have no place in society!  I'm pretty much an Old Testament kind of guy when it comes to punishment for this type of offense - maybe see how they like THEIR home spray painted - and maybe, for the sake of the future they should be neutered so their prodgeny can't replicate these acts!  And this is after some jail time and serious fines!!


Submitted by Greg Kendall on February 26, 2020 - 7:24am.

I find it hard to believe how people would use their names to advertise their own stupidity. 


Submitted by Pat J on February 26, 2020 - 9:52am.

Sad, disgusting, intolerable. Our national parks are sacred ground and must be protected for all generations to come. I hope these perpetrators are found and punished.


Submitted by Bill Ward on February 26, 2020 - 11:12am.

What Chip said ...


Submitted by redwood tree on February 26, 2020 - 12:25pm.

If you like me to remove the graffiti, I would be happy to for no cost. I recommend water blast with baking soda.

 


Submitted by BarbA on February 26, 2020 - 1:31pm.

So I hope you are voting to reflect that belief!  Have you seen what the administration is doing to these sites?


Submitted by Joe Jarrett on February 26, 2020 - 1:52pm.

How about cutting off a hand,  aka Saudi?? 


Submitted by Katie on February 26, 2020 - 2:26pm.

This is a travesty, but in the mean time Organ Pipe is being bulldozed for "the wall". 

The paint on the rocks annoys me, the bulldozers make me furious. 

 


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