The Bureau of Land Management is investigating a report of a single strand of barbed wire deliberately stretched across a trail in the Pipestone Recreational Area east of Butte, Montana, according to KXFL.
On Memorial Day, an 11-year-old girl was riding a dirt bike with friends and a boy ahead of her struck the wire. The rider was traveling slowly at the time and did not receive any injuries, but cases like this have the potential for serious injury or a fatal incident.
“If a wire had been pulled across a trail where it couldn’t be, it could be a very dangerous situation for a rider.” – BLM Butte Office representative Lindsey Babcock
Individuals found the wire stretched tight across a trail near the Four Corners campground off Delmoe Lake Road, approximately four feet off the ground. At that height, a rider traveling at speed would risk the wire making contact with the neck or upper body.
Tensions between motorized and non-motorized recreationists have been an ongoing issue in the Pipestone area, and investigators have not ruled out a connection between that conflict and the placement of the wire.
As of May 26th, the BLM investigation remains open. The agency encourages riders and visitors with information about the incident to contact the dedicated law enforcement inbox at blm_montana_lawenforcement@blm.gov.
Anyone using the Pipestone trails should remain alert for similar hazards until the BLM resolves the investigation.
