Rangers are investigating a vehicle incident that harmed rare plants in Death Valley National Park, urging the public for information.
One of the plants that got hit is the Eureka dunegrass. It’s a threatened species, and there are laws in place to protect it. Sadly, the vehicle might have damaged five other rare plants too. Some of these plants had just come off the endangered list, which makes it even more upsetting.
The park superintendent, Mike Reynolds, is pretty disappointed. He’s asking anyone with info to step up. He mentioned that it’s a shame someone would risk these rare plants just for a little joyride. There are places nearby where people can off-road without causing harm, like Dumont Dunes.
Rangers found over two miles of vehicle tracks on the dunes, which means more plants could be in trouble. They think this happened around late December or early January. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened at the park, either. There are also ongoing repairs to a historic salt tower.
If you know anything about this incident, you can reach out to the National Park Service’s tip line or email them. They’re really hoping to get to the bottom of this.
