Vandals have damaged ancient markings in the Grand Junction area.
/ Courtesy: Mark Pearson
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (AP) -- Vandals have defaced petroglyphs in a newly designated national conservation area in western Colorado.
Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman Erin Curtis says graffiti was found in late August on the ancient rock art off a main trail in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness.
Curtis says the number of visitors to Dominguez Canyon has increased since its inclusion in March as part of a new federal wilderness area. She says the area's new status will give the BLM more resources and law enforcement personnel to manage it.
Earlier this year, two Montrose men were ordered to pay more than $8,000 in restitution and fines for vandalizing petroglyphs in western Colorado in 2007.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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