Vandalism Being Investigated in 10 National Parks

Images of the graffiti surfaced on Instagram.

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The National Park Service is investigating 10 cases of potential vandalism in parks across the country after incriminating photos of graffiti surfaced on social media.

In a statement released Wednesday, the NPS confirmed the presence of graffiti in Yosemite, Death Valley, Crater Lake, Canyonlands, and Zion National Parks. The NPS is awaiting confirmation of similar vandalism in Grand Canyon, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree, Rocky Mountain, and Bryce Canyon National Parks.

The investigation was spurred by a series of photos posted to Instagram by user @Creepytings. The images appear to show heads painted onto rocks in various locations, with “Creepytings 2014” written below.

The @Creepytings Instagram and Tumblr accounts have since been deleted, but the website Modern Hiker, which first noticed the images, preserved several screenshots.

“Vandalism is a violation of the law and it also damages and sometimes destroys often irreplaceable treasures that belong to all Americans,” NPS spokesman Jeffrey Olson toldUSA Today, adding that vandalism at the national parks has been a “small but serious problem” and is considered a federal misdemeanor.

Read more: USA Today

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