Staff writer

lharris@heraldstaronline.com

CONCERNING — The social media craze of rock stacking can do damage to natural habits, like the Hellbender Preserve. — Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Rock stacking, a social media craze that can have ecological consequences, was discovered at the Hellbender Preserve this week, and someone who belatedly realized she saw it happen reported it was adults with children in tow who were responsible.

The same people took fish from the creek, the witness said.

“I almost was going to be a ‘Karen’ and say, you know, there are trail cams, so I wouldn’t be taking the fish, and you’re not supposed to go into the creek, but I did not say anything,” she added.

Aaron Dodds, projects manager at the Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District, said he discovered the vandalism as he was preparing for the arrival of 500 fifth-graders at the preserve this week when he saw “a ton of rocks” had been moved despite signs warning visitors to not go into the water.

“There is a social media craze for stacking rocks,” he said. “It is bad because it speeds up erosion and wrecks the stream ecosystem. Recently there was a thing in North Carolina where they killed a hellbender in the process.”

The National Park Service issued a warning last month after the hellbender’s death, saying it was “found crushed to death beneath rocks that had been moved and stacked by park visitors.”

“Moving the rocks like they did at Hellbender Preserve actually channelized the stream,” he said. “Channelizing the stream causes the water to move faster and erosion to occur.”

He said the drought conditions add to the concern.

“During times of drought you want to make sure water stays on the property as long as possible,” he said. “It’s why beaver dam networks are so beneficial because they impound and hold a lot of water on the property — they’re actually dropping beavers into areas in the west where wildfires are prevalent (now.)”

Dodds said rock stacking and people moving rocks “is an ongoing issue — it has been for years, but this was our first experience at Hellbender Preserve and it was a doozy.”

While no hellbenders were hurt this time, he said it easily could have been.

“It was in hellbender territory,” he said. “This is the most sensitive time of year for hellbenders because it’s their breeding season, when they are on the move and eggs are being laid and hatching.”

Dodds says there’s “a learning curve for everyone.”

“We are beyond thrilled people are using Hellbender Preserve and look forward to opening the other sites soon,” he said. These properties are for education and conservation, and this is just a great way to educate people even though we wish it didn’t happen.”