A spokeswoman for the Daniel Boone National forest said spray paint related vandalism in the U.S. forested area is an increasing problem.
Recent defacing of signage and boat ramps in the London area was reported this week.
Daniel Boone Public Affairs Specialist Kim Bonaccorso said such vandalism is not limited to one area of the forest. “It’s hard to catch someone who comes to a remote area of the forest with a can of neon pink spray paint and decides to deface nature. It’s a behavior I don’t really understand and I’m not sure if anybody really does,” she said.
While additional ecological education in schools about protecting public lands might help, Bonaccorso said vandals may not hear that message. “They probably know that what they are doing is wrong already, so I think it’s just a deviant behavior that’s gonna be maybe somewhat hard to change,” she said.
Bonaccorso said some spray painting vandals were caught last year and were fined and required to try to clean up the damaged areas. In addition to inappropriate paint use, Bonaccorso said tree and rock carvings and even lootings of archaeological sites occur.
