JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. — On Wednesday, the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest shared a pair of social media posts that it has sardonically dubbed "People Trashing Public Lands" after a series of unsavory campers did precisely that.
The first post featured photos from Josephine Campground, Limpy Creek, and Little Falls Campground — dumped with piles of loose trash, discarded camping equipment, and random bits of furniture.
A second post visited the Green Bridge bathroom along the Illinois River, now festooned with spraypaint tags, drug references, and an apparent dig at the Oregon duck.
Luckily, even this sad story is not without a hero.
"The good news? Wild Rivers RD Recreation Specialist Kristin cleaned ALL of this up, so we want to send her some love," forestry officials said in reference to the first post. "We appreciate your service, Kristin! Thanks for taking the time to serve as a garbage person, too."
Kristin made her return in the second post, having discovered the "unsolicited public art" at Green Bridge. The National Forest said that she would welcome any volunteers who wanted to help repaint the unfortunate bathroom. She was even willing to provide the paint.
"Seriously. If you are having a bad trip, how about NOT sharing it with the rest of us?" Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest said.
This is far from the first time that people have vandalized or tossed their garbage throughout the National Forest — and these aren't the first installments of "People Trashing Public Lands," a series that forestry officials say they wish they didn't have to share.