A police report has been filed after an estimated 40 to 50 trees were damaged at California Woods Nature Preserve in Cincinnati. Staff have continued to find damaged trees, according to FOX19’s report. No suspect has been identified.
Damage to trees and trail
The destruction also affected the preserve’s story walk trail. Lead naturalist Gia Giammarinaro told FOX19 that some damaged trees could be about 100 years old, while many smaller trees may be too badly injured to grow back, according to the outlet’s account.
Machete connection not confirmed
Scouts found a machete in the woods, but officials have not established that it was used in the incident. Giammarinaro told FOX19 that the link remained uncertain, as its report noted.
Ohio law on damage to trees
Ohio Revised Code Section 901.51 prohibits recklessly damaging specified vegetation on another person’s land or public land without privilege, as stated in the statute. Section 901.99 classifies a violation of Section 901.51 as a fourth-degree misdemeanor, according to the penalty provision. It is unclear whether either provision will apply in this case.
