Trashed campsites and disrespect to public lands has Forest Service, others on edge

Garbage left at campsites in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Humans defecating in public near the harbor in Grand Marais.

An RV septic system being emptied on the side of the road near people’s homes.

Living trees cut down to provide a better view of a lake at a campsite in Cook County.

These are just some of the examples of behavior that has local residents on edge and feeling frustrated in a busy start to the summer of 2020 on the North Shore of Lake Superior and the surrounding region.

In this report, WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs speaks with Trent Wickman, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service in northeastern Minnesota, about some disturbing trends across the region.

The audio to their conversation can be found below.

Joe Friedrichs July 8, 2020