Dumb asses on Ocracoke

[longcaster]

On Monday morning, March 23, National Park Service (NPS) staff discovered vandalism of symbolic fencing marking a shorebird pre-nesting closure at the South Point area on Ocracoke Island. Five “Area Closed” signs on 2” X 2” wooden posts were broken off at the sand line. Vehicle tracks were visible at three of the broken signs but no footprints were observed in the area.
As required by the court ordered consent decree, a deliberate act of vandalism to fencing results in a mandatory 50 meter expansion of the closure area. Due to the narrow width of the beach at this location, ORV access is now allowed along the ocean shoreline to the southeast corner of the point, but precluded past that location by the mandatory buffer expansion. Pedestrian access below the high tide line is permitted past the buffer expansion along portions of the inlet shoreline outside of the established pre-nesting area.
Superintendent Mike Murray reiterated the need for all parties, including the public, to comply with the consent decree requirements. “This deliberate act of vandalism is contemptible and appears to be aimed at reducing access for the many park visitors who do comply with park regulations. This is an early reminder that future acts of intentional vandalism to resource protection areas will result in greater expansion of the buffers as required under the consent decree,” stated Murray.
In 2008 the park experienced six deliberate violations of resource protection areas and each time the buffers were expanded. Destruction of government property and entering a resource closure are federal criminal violations, each subject up to a $5,000. fine and up to six months imprisonment. If anyone has information about this violation, please call National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers at 252-928-5111.
For up-to-date information on currently open or closed areas, check the Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s Google Earth maps at:
http://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisi...leearthmap.htm

[Steve Coleman]

speculation on my part:

odds this was done by a dow/audobon member: 98 %
odds this was done by the park service itself: 2%
odds this was done by someone who cares about beach access: 0%

f the consent decree.

steve

[Whacker]

Bird Nerds!!!

[Longgone]

Originally Posted by Steve Coleman

speculation on my part:

odds this was done by a dow/audobon member: 98 %
odds this was done by the park service itself: 2%
odds this was done by someone who cares about beach access: 0%

f the consent decree.

steve

I agree with this conclusion.

[CJS]

My bet is on tourists or even locals who had a few too many and were just "having a little fun". One thing I can't stand is people who are too busy or too smart or too important to give an f about other people.

Considering the state of the economy, I bet if you put a $500 bounty on information leading to the "conviction" of the offenders names would get dropped pretty quick.

I will give.

CJ

[longcaster]

looks like it was driven into and bumped over with the front bumper.

[derf]

Considering the state of the economy, I bet if you put a $500 bounty on information leading to the "conviction" of the offenders names would get dropped pretty quick.

i think they did that last year , the reward was never collected

[Possum]

Originally Posted by Steve Coleman

speculation on my part:

odds this was done by a dow/audobon member: 98 %
odds this was done by the park service itself: 2%
odds this was done by someone who cares about beach access: 0%

f the consent decree.

steve

Totally agree Steve.

The expanded buffers imposed by the special interest groups that are parties to the CD is further proof that NPS is no longer managing the park.
Murray is spot on...this was done as a deliberate act aimed at reducing access

[Plug]

How coincedental that this would happen concurrent to weather forecasts pointing to the first good drum bite of the season.

Somebody really ought to take that **** to court. It's unconstitutional. Trouble is it's part of the consent decree and to win would result in throwing out the consent decree which would close the beaches.

What really needs to be done is this crap used as an example in congress as to why the consent decree cannot be used to govern ORV use over the next two years and the interim management plan needs to be put back in place.

[king_rigr]

Originally Posted by Steve Coleman

speculation on my part:

odds this was done by a dow/audobon member: 98 %
odds this was done by the park service itself: 2%
odds this was done by someone who cares about beach access: 0%

f the consent decree.

steve

Well put.

Couldn't have said it any better myself.

[Possum]

I wonder what would happen if NPS offered up the $5,000.00 fine as a reward?
There probably wern't many people on the O beach....or riding the ferry.Someone surely saw the perp?perps on the beach or in the S Point area.If people on the beach didn't see it happen,it might have been done in darkness. Maybe the guys running the night shift on the ferry could help.Is there video of vehicles entering and leaving the ferry? The perp was far from the water and where folks fish...surely someone would notice a vehicle driving close to the closure(unless it was an "authorized" vehicle)...the tire tracks are kinda unique....with a heavier, "serrated" tread pattern on the inside of the tire...in addition to the tread,an accurate measurement of the distance between the tires could really narrow the search.
Whoever did it could be caught....

[7nBait]

Originally Posted by Possum

the tire tracks are kinda unique....with a heavier, "serrated" tread pattern on the inside of the tire.....

Everyone experienced knows bald tires work best in the sand ...
They don't look like BFG's to me...Maybe highway tread...
Like park ranger tread...on/off road

Who else would risk a ticket...

[Possum]

I have bfg "long terrain" tires on my little nissan.They have "agressive" tread on the inside of the tire only.....sort of like the tire tracks of the vehicle that pushed down the signs.The tracks are distinctive and unusual.An experienced tire person could tell you the make and size of those tires in a glance.
Anyway...I sure would like to see the gun totin, body armor wearin,high tech SUV drivin NPS Rangers make an effort and find out who did this.Enforcement is their job.

[jellybear]

Why can't they stick a cam out there if they can't Man it themselves?

[hatrasfevr]

In 2008 the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association,offered.............

2008: NCBBA Offers Reward for Apprehension of Deliberate Resource Closure Violations

In support of the National Park Service’s attempts to apprehend violators of park resource closures, Jim Keene, President of North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (NCBBA) announced today that his organization is offering a $1000.00 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person/s involved in a deliberate act of vandalism in a resource protection area within the jurisdiction of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. This reward stands from now until November 15, 2008 or until all turtle nests have been hatched.

Despite blatant intrusions by ATV's in the Salvo area last year.......no one was caught or reported by locals that may have seen the ATV's on the beach. The reward was never paid!! Rewards do not appear to be the answer.There are plenty of rules and regulations...why isn't there more NPS enforcement?

There has been many discussions about a kind of 'Neighborhood Watch' for CHNSRA beaches. The discussions revolve around all night fishermen acting as lookouts for closure violators. Unfortunately fishermen are not permitted on the beaches all night...........only the unsupervised violaters are!!

Donate to the NCBBA Legal Fund
www.ncbba.org

Mike Metzgar
North Carolina Beach Buggy Association
Director, #5559, Life Member