Sites in Yosemite vandalized with graffiti

Yosemite National Park officials are asking for help identifying the people behind the tagging of graffiti at 30 sites last month.

Officials put out a call on social media Sunday asking the public to help identify those responsible for the vandalism.

Park rangers received multiple reports of vandalism on the popular Yosemite Falls Trail on May 20 around 8:15 p.m. When rangers visited the trail the next day, they found about 30 sites that were spraypainted with white and blue graffiti.

Most of the graffiti was about 3 feet by 3 feet, and some of the tags were as large as 8 feet by 8 feet, according to park officials.

The Yosemite Falls Trail is one of the national park's oldest trails, built between 1873 and 1877, according to the National Park Service. The steep trail winds upward toward views of Upper Yosemite Falls and a direct view of Half Dome.

Under federal law, vandalism of a national park is considered a misdemeanor that can bring a $100 to $500 fine and/or three to six months in prison.

Park officials are urging people who were on the Yosemite Falls Trail between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on May 20 to submit a tip at go.nps. gov/SubmitATip if they saw anyone tagging or carrying spray-paint cans.

Those with more information about the vandalism can also contact park officials at nps_isb@nps.gov or call or text 1-888-653-0009.

This is the latest in a number of graffiti vandalism reported inside US national parks.

Last December, a group of names were carved into rocks at Texas' Big Bend National Park, permanently damaging them. The park's prehistoric stone artworks are believed to be more than 4,000 years old.

“Damaging natural features and rock art destroys the very beauty and history that the American people want to protect in our parks,” Bob Krumenaker, superintendent of Big Bend National Park, said in a statement at the time.

“With each instance of vandalism, part of our nation's heritage is lost forever.”

Sometimes, the guilty parties are caught.

A Canadian resident identified publicly only as “Steve” owned up to leaving graffiti around several sites at Death Valley National Park in 2020. The man confessed and apologized after seeing images of the graffiti damage on social media.