LAUREL, Del.- The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control says it needs your help to crack down on illegal dumping.
The agency's Nanticoke Wildlife area has been the latest victim of discarded trash, furniture, and tires alongside the road. Division of Fish and Wildlife Regional Manager Rob Gano says a crossroad between Phillips Landing Road and Sharptown Road is where most of the illegal activity occurs.
"When I see litter on the road, I always feel angry," Gano tells WBOC. "Because it is such a thoughtless act and it is quite a diversion from what we would like to do which is providing habitat for wildlife."
Gano says the wildlife area has been vandalized recently as well, with people often destroying access gates and ruining roads by driving erratically. That's one of the reasons why DNREC is asking the public to report suspicious or illegal activity in the area meant for hunting and hiking.
"We are not asking for anyone to put themselves in harm's way," he explains. But [if] they can get us a description of the vehicle, a tag number, a time, that would be great."
Aside from taking away park resources, experts say the illegal dumping also poses a threat to the environment.
"Things like electronics, used paints, oil paints, lawn chemicals, all those things can actually soak into the ground and actually affect our ground water, drinking water," says Lisa Wool, Executive Director of the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance. "They can also run off into our local waterways like the Nanticoke and the Broad Creek."
Gano says if the illegal dumping and vandalism don't stop, the plagued part of the Nanticoke Wildlife Area could be closed to the public.
Anyone who sees illegal dumping or other illicit activity is asked to call DNREC's Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police at 302-739-4580 or 800-523-3336.
