Three areas closed off to protect shorebirds near Oregon Inlet have been expanded after someone in an off-road vehicle ran down fencing and carved "doughnuts" in the sand over the weekend.
The damage was found Sunday in protected areas south of Ramp 4 on Bodie Island Spit, a National Park Service statement said.
A sign was destroyed and an investigating ranger found "obvious evidence of tire spin-out tracks in the sand, including zigzagging across the beach, 'doughnut' tire marks, and evidence of sand thrown considerable distances," the statement said.
It's the third such incident since a consent decree settled a lawsuit in which environmental groups had challenged the management of beach driving in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
The decree requires that closures be expanded by 50 meters if anyone deliberately disturbs or harasses wildlife or vandalizes fences, nests or plants.
Someone found guilty of destruction of federal property and entering a resource closure is subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months imprisonment for each violation, the statement said.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
all i see is pure vandalism and criminality
i can't wait for someone to get caught doing this. if you say that this is all the result of a judge and handful of people, then where was the oppostion to this? If the sportsmen and women who use the beaches for recreation (and not vandalism) had organized to fight this, then maybe the beaches would have been open. Now, it's too late. I understand that true sportsmen and women care about the environment, but you have a handful of criminals truly hurting your cause.
There are many in NC
that are very upset about these beach closures. Me included. It was a judge and a small number of people who are responsible for this situation! Hopefully laws will be passed very soon to open the beaches back up. The NC US Senators and District 13 Representative are working on it.
Staying out of NC
For years (decades) I fished the point and surrounding beaches all the way north to Duck and Corolla.
I stopped comming to fish NC beach first due to the lack of fishing license reciprocity between VA and NC. I was thinking of buying a license anyway, but now with the beach closure it is not worth it.
I'll stay in Virginia and fish the beaches there. Yes, VA has some nice fishing spots that are as good or better than many as NC's.
I'd spend $100-$150 WEEKLY fishing NC. Not anymore! Multiply that times the numerous anglers also staying away. NC, hope the tree huggers are spending and equivalent amount!