The woods... who do I complain to?

Behind my house... beyond my own property woods, there's woods that was set aside. In other words, it's not privately owned.

The problem is, whilst on a walk back there, I came upon two large piles of beer bottles. One of them was all smashed and it was just disgusting. There's also empty cigerette cartons also. It doesn't sound like much but it was in immense quanities.

I don't have any tolerance for this. If teenagers want to trash the area, they're going to have to find some place else. It's not like the local wild life doesn't have enough to contend with.

Is there anything I can do about this? To whom should I report this to?

Find out who owns it, the state, the county or the city? Then call the law enforcement agency over the government entitity and ask them who to report it to. That will get you started. You may chase a "wild goose" for awhile but you'll eventually find the right ones.
If it's being used as an illegal dump, your sanitation department might get involved too and don't forget the health department.

Well, at the very least perhaps putting a trash can back there for the mess might let them know that someone's watching them. I wondered how far back from your property or house they are partying. Do you have a dog outside? Mine doesn't let anything/anybody within a great distance of our house.

It's kind of far.... I don't think Gingy bear would do anything. I often hear the deer in the backyard before she does.

If I put out a trashcan, how would the trash be collected? I think it might be beneficial to start with the sanitation department. It's really a dirty and dangerous problem. I also think they'd have an easier time finding out who it actually belongs to.

I really think kids are behind this particular problem. But also, my neighbors have a pile of discarded plant pots (kind of ironic, plants are nature and they're polluting the natural area) out there but in a different area. Isn't it sad how people view the world as their trash can?

I don't know about you, but I have noticed more and more trash on the side of the road lately. It appears to me that people are starting not to care again. I was reminded the other day of the commercial long ago where the Indian was standing on the side of road with tears going down his cheek and trash all around his feet. Yes it is sad that people just don't think about what they are really doing.

I think I'd post a sign saying as long as the area is kept clean, the neighbors won't be inclined to call the authorities. I'm surprised no one has called, especially if young ones are involved.

Another thought is to just contact the sheriff or police dept and say you were walking through the woods and noticed that mess and let them deal with it. Sort of wash your hands of it.

To tell the truth, I don't think any one really goes back there besides me. It's a shame people bought these expensive wooded lots and don't appreciate the woods! I've found showy orchis, jack in the pulpits, etc. back there. I'm constantly finding new things. I don't take them of course... just a picture will do.

My mom just told me there's no sanitation department here. I'm not sure if that's true. I'll try contacting the police.

If the area is a common one (whether owned by the county or whatever) and accessible by the public, and you wish to see it cleaned up... I like Kathy's idea of putting out a trash can. Clean up what's there, and be willing to dispose of it yourself in time if the 'authorities' don't just jump right on it.

You are the one most irritated by the mess at this point, and I don't blame you, as you love to frequent the area and expect to see it pristine. :) You'll feel better after the initial clean up, despite how you may be cursing the folks who did it. It will also show those same folks what to do if they ever even come back to party some night.

If there are neighbors involved doing the trashing... it could be a very different story, and one in which they may need to be involved in if they're unaware of what's going on out there.

Donna

This problem is solved.

I called the non-emergency police and they directed me to the park police. The park police are going to station, occassionally, a patrol in that area as it seems to be a "party spot". They said they'd put cleaning it up on the list of things to do but that takes a while. So I'm going to do that...

So.... that's that!

Good! keep us posted on the results Capt.

good for you! i like it when someone takes the bull by the horns and deals with things :) have a neighborhood clean-up party....you could start something good in your community.

Oh, I wish Misty! Too bad my neighbor's aren't more like DGers or I would propose the idea. I'd like to see some areas on the sides of the roads cleaned up.

Hey, contact your local newspaper, see how fast your neighbor's join in because they want to be in the limelight, ha, ha....

You can go to the Court House in your county and find out who owns the land...just give them the address...or your address and tell them that it abuts your property.

I'm so glad that you are into this...keep trying to get others involved...how about the High School? Maybe they have an Ecology Club. Jo

Just be careful when you go back there. I wouldn't want my daughter going into that area alone, especially after someone is onto the Park Police being called. People who would trash a site might be up to more than beer and smoking.

The local high school is lucky enough to have woods around them. They also have a pond, and natural streams. It's really beautiful in the high school's backyard. It was too bad that the science classes only went out there on slight occassions. I myself (even though I was in a nature class and also in a animal studies class) only went out there a couple of times.

If they taught kids about nature, I think they might appreciate it more. Ignorance is dangerous.

I'll just talk my friends into helping me clean it up! Lol. I'm sure they'll love it!