The Uintah County Sheriff’s Office and the Vernal Field Office-Bureau of Land Management are seeking information related to the installation of climbing bolts on the Pregnant Sheep Petroglyph Panel near the Musket Shot Springs Overlook.
According to the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office, the climbing bolts were discovered on the petroglyph panel on November 10th, 2024. BLM law enforcement is hoping to identify anyone involved in the installation.
Anyone with information related to the incident that might identify those responsible is asked to report it to the BLM law enforcement at (800) 722-3998 or (801) 539-4099. The petroglyph is located between Bourdette Draw and Highway 40.
A similar incident occurred in 2021, when climbing bolts damaged a 1000 year old petroglyph site near Moab, Utah. Sadly petroglyph vandalism, whether purposeful or on accident, isn’t an entirely uncommon event.