Authorities with the National Park Service asked for the public's help in identifying two men who were filmed over the weekend pushing down rocks along a trail in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. According to the announcement, the incident in which the vandals were seen toppling natural rock formations from a cliff along the Redstone Dunes Trail area happened on April 7.
Video of the incident was shared by the social media page Tourons of Yellowstone, which highlights videos of park visitors behaving badly. The caption reads: "Two idiots destroying what nature created over thousands of years in front of screaming girl."
The video shows the two men — a skinny one and a fat one in baggy shirts — atop a cliff shoving at two big boulders in front of what appears to be a little girl. Little by little, the two men remove smaller rocks to clear the way for the bigger rocks. With the rocks clear, the larger rock slides down. A voice can be heard, warning the two men not to fall and finally, saying, "Daddy! Daddy!" as the rock tumbles down.
Comments to the video, which has been viewed more than 1.2 million times in four days, have been overwhelmingly negative.
"This video is enough to induce a rage blackout," said mir_eus on Instagram. "Go back to your sofa and bucket of chicken if you can't handle yourself outdoors."
"Man, this one makes me mad. Destroying the natural landscape for your own entertainment in a national park," said Isaac Mathews with the handle isacryanmathews.
And, Daniel, or mclovin28, said: "Zero tolerance for this kind of behavior. They need to be caught and prosecuted."
Although the Park Service did not say the exact violation the men committed — the incident is still under investigation — the crime of vandalism to a national park carries with it a punishment of at least a three- to six-month prison sentence along with a fine of $500.
If you know who these vandals are, the Park Service said you can contact them by calling its tip line at 888-653-0009 or sending it through the NPS website.
