Public Urged To Stop Piling Rocks At Spittal Pond

December 7, 2016

The Bermuda Audubon Society and the Bermuda National Trust have “condemned the recent practice of prising rocks from the natural formations and piling them into rock-life formations.”

“The practice, which has occurred on several occasions in Spittal Pond, is disturbing some of the few remaining habitats for the Bermuda Skink, which is considered to be critically endangered and is protected under the Bermuda Protected Species Act 2003,” the two groups said.

“Apart from disturbing the habitats of endangered species, prising up and moving rocks can also cause erosion and can disturb plants and ferns.”

Audubon Society president Mr Andrew Dobson said: “While we understand that the creation of these rock formations or cairns is sometimes considered to be art, people may not be aware that interfering with nature in this way can have catastrophic effects on other species and can cause major disturbances to the natural environment.”

Spittal Pond Rock pile Bermuda December 7 2016

Bermuda National Trust President Lt Col William White added: “Thousands of people every year enjoy Bermuda’s parks, nature reserves and open spaces, but users need to respect the safety of the species which rely on these areas for their very survival.”

Lt Col White added: “The saying ‘Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints”, is appropriate here. Nature takes thousands of years to evolve and we must take enormous care not to disturb that evolution while we enjoy these areas.”

“Parks around the world are dealing with similar problems. The US National Parks Service recently launched an effort in the Southwest states of discouraging cairn-building,” the BNT said.

“The Audubon Society and the Trust are urging people to desist from this practice, Anyone with information, or who is interested in learning more about the problem, can contact info@audubon.bm or palmetto@bnt.bm.”

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Comments (27)

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  1. Sickofantz says:

    I love the rock piles. Jeez there are so many rocks for skinks to hide under!

    • Allan G says:

      Those who understand the significance of habitat destruction will read this article. Is it possible to use tasteful signage (similar to ones at the Aquarium) by the Spittal Pond entrances to educate users about the skink and the impacts of these piles and trash, particularly empty bottles and cans.

      • Pond Dog says:

        Good idea!

      • Confused says:

        How are people disliking this comment!? Proper knowledge of something can help prevent and protect! you can’t be blamed for not knowing something of course! But if you give someone information then it’s their choice to ignore or to use it.

        Or did I read this comment wrong? Just what I’m grabbing out of it.

        • Point boy says:

          That’s just the sad mentality of a few, these days. Anything positive is a no no.

    • Real Deal says:

      There are never enough with those cranes that were introduced into Bermuda environment lurking around waiting to snatch guys up.

      just picture yourself as a skink trying to get from A- B and @ is taking up your cubby holes exposing you to a killer that was never in the island before. you though you only had to worry about the loud mouth kiskadee that gives away it own position.

    • SMALL CARS says:

      Check out ARUBA for rock piles…. they are cool :)

  2. Sage says:

    Maybe the skinks are protesting??

  3. Pond Dog says:

    If you notice the white edges on the rocks, that shows they are being broken off or prised up as the article says. That is not art, it is vandalism.
    And I would not speak so lightly about an endangered indigenous species which we humans have done a good job of exterminating.

  4. Takbir Karriem Sharrieff says:

    Most of the Bermuda skinks are hiding out in,,,,the O.B.A. party and under the present rocks in the Establishment of Private Business Concerns.The new Forty Thieves.

    • jt says:

      Good effort.

    • Anbu says:

      Better than being a rat in the plp anyday. Burt and furbert behaved pretty damn close to a skink on friday tho. Hiding and all. Guess you are ok with that tho. Typical

  5. Triangle Drifter says:

    This is not art. It is a form of grafitti. No better than those who spray walls & bus stops with paint. It would be harmless if no for the harm done to wildlife which few here seem to care about.

    Seen it in a few US & Canadian parks where the custom is for people to add only one rock not a whole structure by one person or group.

    Simple fix. Knock them down. This is what US & Canadian rangers do when these things get out of hand. Knock them down every week or every season depending on the nuisance factor. This way those who have the urge to build these things will re use the same rocks over & over. If only a few are building these things they will get tired of their efforts being destroyed soon enough.

    • Point boy says:

      It was most likely young people, having fun. In my younger days I would have been doing the same sort of thing.

      There was no malicious intent. They are now informed. Thanks!

  6. Terry says:

    It’s not graffiti at all.
    It’s a form of expression.
    I see no harm as long as they are not defacing or breaking limestone off.

    Set aside an area like they do in other country’s for this.

    The skinks are threatened more by building and clearing.

    People b!%@h too much.

    • But they are defacing and breaking limestone off. The pics show that. Today it’s one or two people. How soon before it becomes a fad and everyone and his cousin thinks it’s fun to express themselves? Extreme, yes, but not outside the realm of possibility.
      There are many, many ways for people to express themselves without damaging the natural world. These parks are supposed to be safe havens for the creatures that live in them. They are not meant to be canvases for the artistic to express themselves.. The fact that building and clearing is the major threat to endangered animals makes it all the more important that these nature reserves been protected from even the smallest acts of vandalism. Ideally, the artistic inspiration felt by individuals should be taken away with them and used in areas that may not normally be the beneficiaries of artistic beauty.

    • Whistling Frog says:

      Am I missing something? What is the stacking of rocks mean?

      • wahoo says:

        North American Indians would use rock piles called inukshuk as navigational aids. The thing pictured looks like it might be an attempt at one but it looks out of place and would have been better off not done at all. If you want to express yourself a nature reserve is not the place.

    • Kim Smith says:

      Oh my goodness, I certainly can’t think of a time recently where the press did a piece on people building lovely little piles of rocks without there being some bone of contention. I’m hoping you now realise that the story is about people defacing the rock face for their own entertainment… and hoping you do realise it as a real environmental issue.

  7. Ra's al Ghul says:

    I see the plp dislike crew are out in force today.

  8. Triangle Drifter says:

    Pile rocks up in your own front yard. No problem.

  9. James H says:

    Only in Bermuda would folks complain about rock piles. Bermudians are the most complaining, miserable and entitled people in the world.

    • Take only photographs, leave only footprints says:

      Maybe, but in this case there are legitimate reasons for concern which the article explains.

    • Real Deal says:

      every action has a reaction Bermudan is small so you see the reaction quicker. the less skinks toads we have the more bug there will be. and it makes it harder to enjoy those nights on the beach, porch, dock ect.
      then you have things like zaeka

    • um just saying says:

      So, your flight back from whence you came leaves when?

  10. mmm says:

    I wish folks would enjoy the beauty of a park, an ocean, and let it be, it is soothing to the nerves after a hectic day at work, I know that children get bored an are tempted to do something mischievous. Let us as well as the ” animals- little creatures ” grow and be nourished by what has been provided.

  11. James says:

    I am sure every time there is a hurricane and the waves roll through to the pond that a lot more rocks get moved by the waves than these people!