Law enforcement officers are investigating a strange incident of vandalism at Fort Meade Recreation Area in South Dakota just east of the Wyoming border. Multiple construction vehicles on-site for an infrastructure project were driven into the same ditch.

Two Komatsu excavators and a skid-steer loader were driven into a narrow ditch dug to install a water pipeline. All three vehicles belong to the contractor for the project, Flatland Enterprises LLC.

“An unknown individual or individuals gained unauthorized access to the construction equipment on the evening of May 3,” Brittany E. Jones, Chief of Communications for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Montana/Dakotas Office, told Cowboy State Daily. “The contractor was able to recover and remove the equipment from the trench on May 5, and construction resumed the next day.”

Wyoming and South Dakota are experiencing a surge of similar incidents of vandalism on public lands. An incident on this scale in South Dakota is not inspiring confidence in Wyoming’s contractors.

“We worry about all of our machinery whenever it leaves the yard,” said Paul Leroux, owner of Boone’s Machine and Rental in Cody. “We’ve never experienced something like this, but anything can happen.

Ditch Diggers Down

Jones said Flatland Enterprises was in the process of installing a potable water pipeline to improve water access for Fort Meade Recreation Area’s campgrounds and grazing livestock. Their vehicles ended up in the ditch they had dug for the new infrastructure.

“The contractor’s equipment sustained minor damage but remains functional,” she said. “There was no reported environmental damage related to the incident, and (it caused) an estimated 1.5-day delay.”

The Meade County Sheriff’s Department is actively investigating the incident. They had strong words for the “genius” whose “childish antics” damaged the equipment and delayed the project.

“This weekend, somebody decided it would be hilarious to take valuable equipment for a joyride,” the department posted on Facebook. “So, whoever you are, do us all a favor and leave. Go find a sandbox somewhere else and play your stupid games that ruin other people’s property! Your little stunt has cost taxpayers money because this is a public project. This is exactly why we can’t have nice things!”

Risk Of Exposure

Leroux looked over the photos of the ditched diggers. Based on what he could see, he believed the damage wasn’t too significant.

“It’s hard to see the details, but it looks like there were some bent panels. The repairs probably aren’t super-extensive, and most of those machines could be re-corrected and put back to work relatively quickly,” he said.

Leroux said earth movers are designed to be durable, but that doesn’t make them invulnerable. Improper handling can damage any machine.

“There’s always exposure when you have equipment in the field, whether qualified or unqualified people are using it,” he said. “It’s a constant worry.”

Flatland’s machinery was installing a water pipeline, but the job site and the ditch appeared to be dry. According to Leroux, that’s very fortunate.

“Repairs can be extensive if a machine ends up in a pond or something,” he said. “If the surfaces are mostly dry, the machines will probably be okay.”

Vagaries Of Vandalism

Jones said vandalism is “an unfortunate and ongoing challenge on public lands” in South Dakota. This is just the latest incident of a disconcerting trend.

“Public lands are a shared national resource, and the BLM encourages all visitors to respect these spaces and follow Leave No Trace principles,” she said. “These acts undermine the shared values of stewardship and access that public lands are built upon.”

Recent incidents of vandalism at Fort Meade have resulted in damaged or destroyed signs, vault toilets, kiosks, gates, fences, and other public facilities. Repairing that damage comes at the taxpayer’s expense.

“Acts of vandalism not only waste taxpayer resources but also delay improvements and diminish recreational experiences for the broader community,” Jones said. “The public’s support in protecting these areas helps ensure they remain safe, accessible, and welcoming for generations to come.

Grow Up

Similar incidents of vandalism are a constant and costly irritant throughout Wyoming.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is increasingly concerned about people shooting signs they’ve posted at public access points. Meanwhile, the Wyoming Department of Transportation estimated it would cost $1,000 to replace two road signs stolen from the tunnels along U.S. 14/16/20 west of Cody (although one of the signs was recovered).

“Sadly, people think they can do it, because they can,” Campbell County resident Frank Groth, a firearms instructor and retired law enforcement officer, told Cowboy State Daily. “It’s just irresponsible and childish. And that’s me being charitable. I can think of other words for it.”

Boone rents construction machines to several governmental agencies, including the BLM, the State of Wyoming, and municipalities throughout northwest Wyoming. He’s never experienced anything like the incident at Fort Meade, but the incident doesn’t do anything to assuage his worries about vandalism and damaged property on a job site. 

“The contract any entity signs will tell them they have full responsibility for the equipment while it’s on-site,” he said. “We haven’t had to deal with anything like this, but there’s always exposure on the job.”

The Meade County Sheriff’s Office has pledged that several deputies who “share your frustration with this idiocy in our community” are determined to hold the vandals accountable. They encouraged anyone with information to come forward and help them “put an end to this nonsense together” – there’s no defending these ditch-driving vandals.

“There are real people with real jobs relying on this equipment,” they said. “You’ve ruined everything with your pathetic behavior. Seriously, grow up.”

Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.