Hatteras vandals sabotage their cause

The motives behind recent acts of vandalism at Cape Hatteras National Seashore aren't known. But if the vandals are hoping their actions will bring an end to controversial wildlife protections, they're fooling themselves - and likely drawing closer to federal criminal prosecution.

Last weekend, National Park Service officials discovered barricades, fencing and signs damaged in two areas that had been declared temporarily off-limits to vehicles and pedestrians in order to protect nesting shorebirds. Similar acts were committed in the park last year and earlier this year.

The vandalism doesn't magically reopen those areas. In fact, it increases the amount of shoreline closed to drivers and pedestrians.

Under the terms of a court agreement signed last year by multiple parties - including a coalition of off-road vehicle users and officials from Dare and Hyde counties - the two buffer zones were immediately expanded by 50 meters each as a result of the vandalism. If a similar act occurs there again, the affected zone will be expanded again.

This summer, there's a new twist to the agreement, however. A federal judge recently signed off on a change that will allow the buffer zone to be automatically returned to its original size if the violator or violators are apprehended.

That's a big incentive for anyone who has information about the vandalism to tell law enforcement officials.

There are other incentives, too. Park officials report that residents and organizations in Dare and Hyde have offered to donate reward money for information leading to the arrests of those responsible. And the Dare County Crime Line, which pays up to $1,000 for information that results in arrests, is accepting tips on the vandalism at (252) 473-3111 and (800) 745-2746.