Native Plants Vandalized in Tonto National Forest
In the Tonto National Forest near Four Peaks, a dozen saguaros and other native plants, including barrel, prickly pear, and cholla cacti, were found chopped up and shot at by unknown individuals over a weekend.
Phoenix, AZ, November 3, 2026 —
A number of native plants, including iconic saguaro cacti, were found damaged in the Tonto National Forest near Four Peaks. The incident occurred over a weekend, with unknown individuals allegedly chopping up and shooting at the vegetation.
The extent of the damage included a total of a dozen plants. Among the affected species were saguaro cacti, as well as barrel, prickly pear, and cholla cacti. The exact date of the incident was not provided, but it was reported to have taken place over a weekend.
The motive behind the vandalism and the identities of the individuals responsible are not currently known. Law enforcement agencies may be investigating the matter, but details regarding any official response or ongoing investigation were not available in the provided summary.
The Tonto National Forest is a protected natural area, and the destruction of native plants is a violation of federal laws. The summary did not include information about permits, code violations, or fines associated with this specific incident. The contractor’s name, if any were involved in the removal or cleanup, was not provided.
Further details regarding the timeline of the discovery or any subsequent actions taken by forest officials or authorities were not specified. The summary provided limited information about the circumstances surrounding the vandalism, only detailing the types and quantity of plants affected and the nature of the damage.
Story summarized from the original created by Haley Williams on www.azfamily.com, see more information here.
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