Dirty Destruction

Kudos to the U.S. Forest Service for cracking down on vandalism.

The Forest Service has pressed char-ges against 39 people accused of causing $30,000 worth of damage to the Jefferson Forest by taking their off-road vehicles into prohibited areas.

We’re not talking about just driving the jeep to the cliff to get a better view, although that would damage any plants and animals in the vehicle’s path.

We’re talking about a pastime called “mud-bogging” in which drivers deliberately spin their tires to throw up mud.

We don’t know if these 39 individuals engaged in this kind of vandalism; only a court can say.

We do know the practice is extremely destructive to the earth, often damaging open areas that wildlife authorities have specifically designed for habitat.

The United Four Wheel Drive Associ-ations said they will provide volunteers and heavy equipment experts to repair damage. They sayd they support conservation of public lands, and that members educate owners of four-wheel drive vehicles about proper off-road driving.

Let’s have more education, please, and less destruction.