“I hope they catch them”

National parks are wonderful places to feel immersed in nature and learn about ecosystems. So, when authorized tourists break the rules and threaten the safety of ecosystems and historic spaces, it is considered a crime.

National Parks Traveler is looking for tips on how to identify a tourist couple who is breaking the rules. The couple was visiting Canyonlands National Park in Utah and were caught hanging around Cave Spring Cowboy Camp, a section off-limits to tourists because it is historically preserved, according to National Parks Traveler. This is an unfortunate example of tourists disregarding national park rules and risking harm to history and nature.

Captured on a trail camera, the pair went to the cowboy camp, manipulated the historic harnesses located there and are also suspected of stealing artifacts. Park Rangers are searching for information on the couple using footage from the trail camera.

The official page for the Canyonlands’ Cave Spring Trail on the National Park Service explicitly states, “Entering, touching, or climbing any archaeological sites is strictly prohibited,” due to the fragility of the structures and artifacts. Ignoring these rules and causing damage to the camp is not only detrimental to American history, but it can also wreak havoc on the natural life that exists in the state park.

In Canyonlands National Park, for example, much of the desert environment may appear devoid of flora and fauna, but it is actually made up of biological soil crust.

“This crust is composed of cyanobacteria, lichens, mosses, fungi and algae, and constitutes an essential element of the desert ecosystem. It protects the soils from wind and water erosion and enriches them with nitrogen and other nutrients. Organic soil can take years to grow, and careless steps can crush it,” NPS reported.

Therefore, going off official trails and entering prohibited areas can negatively impact the entire ecosystem, simply by crushing it under your shoes. This is why it is crucial that humans respect their environment and provide spaces conducive to the development of healthy ecosystems.

“As always, there are always some who think the rules don’t apply to them!!” someone commented on a Yahoo repost.

“I hope they catch them,” commented another.

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