“One bad apple can ruin the whole bushel.”
This is one of those clichés we’ve heard for most of our lives; the age old motto that one person, one bad decision, one bad apple if you may, can ruin it for the rest of us.
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Vandalism to a public restroom
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Like the rebel in fifth grade who just couldn’t equate launching paper airplanes to added home work. Thanks to a barrage of paper warfare the entire class shouldered the load of memorizing additional spelling words. One person’s disregard for simple rules ended up with everyone in class reaping his punishment.
I think we all know the adult world operates on much the same premise. Rules are needed for the masses because just a few people don’t seem to care. Actions of others can ruin it for those who make every effort to do the right thing.
Unfortunately, the outdoor world has no shortage of examples. Stop at public boat ramp and you’ll find gates, signs and parking areas that exhibit the results of littering and vandalism. In a worst case scenario, areas that were open to the public sometimes get shut down to all because of the actions of a few.
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This is a HUGE disgrace to society
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Just a few weeks back some vandal, for no apparent reason, killed a huge snapping turtle near the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site fishing pond at Game and Fish headquarters in Bismarck. Such extreme cases could lead to reduced hours at the OWLS site, plus the added expense – public expense, I might add – of having surveillance cameras installed.
The term vandal applies to many situations where someone shoots a sign or dumps garbage. It’s not “hunters” who shoot signs, it’s vandals. It’s not “anglers” that litter recreation areas. The vast majority of people who spend time outdoors adhere to the positive adage, “let’s leave it better than we found it.”
The few who don’t respect the property of others are the reason why “open only between dawn and dusk” signs are needed at public areas, and why picnic tables are chained down – so they cannot be moved by sincere campers, or trouble-seekers who want to flip them over or steal them all together.
What can be done?
Since human nature will always toss a few bad apples into the bunch, the good ones need to keep watch and take action.
We’ve probably all picked up an empty pop can and tossed it into the garbage. It’s a righteous act, but in some instances action beyond picking up after others may be necessary.
For game and fish poaching we have the Report All Poachers hotline – 800-472-2121 – where people can report violations. The same number also works for acts of vandalism. If you witness vandalism or other criminal activity, take a moment and play back in your mind what occurred. Make mental notes if a pencil and paper aren’t handy; be sure to jot the circumstances down when you get a chance.
Record precisely who did what action and note the suspect’s physical description. Make sure and document license plates or other pertinent information. In this day and age of mobile meth labs, you’re better off reporting the activity to law enforcement, rather than intervening and putting yourself at risk.
People who think it’s not that big of a deal to toss garbage as they spin away from a boat landing have the same attitude as those who do things like cut fences and damage bathhouses. It all leads to time, energy and money spent fixing, cleaning and repairing what was damaged.
Government agencies have better ways to use their resources, and over time frequently vandalized areas become candidates for restricted access, or worse yet, being shut down completely.
And that takes away from people who may get off work late, or just prefer the solitude of shore-fishing under a moonlit sky. Suffice it to say that any restrictions will affect somebody, somewhere, and they won’t be happy.
We’re all in this together. As you venture out this summer and again during fall hunting season, don’t be the bad apple. And if you see one, you’ll know what to do.
Leier is a biologist with the Game and Fish Dept. He can be reached via email: dleier@state.nd.us
Photo credits to the ND Game and Fish Department
