The Department of Natural Resources and Enviroment is asking for assistance from the public to report any damage or theft they may witness or are aware of related to snowmobile trail signs.

Each fall and during the snowmobile season, 68 snowmobile trail grant sponsors take to the trails to replace stolen/broken signs on the more than 6,546 miles of Michigan’s designated snowmobile trail system. Replacing these signs takes a significant amount of time, and is a big financial cost to the snowmobile program.

“In addition to the cost, this is a major safety concern” said Steve DeBrabander, DNRE’s state trails operations supervisor. “A missing stop sign, stop ahead sign, or yield sign could lead to a serious accident. The individuals who steal or vandalize these signs may have some liability if there is an accident.”

The DNRE requests that anyone who witnesses or is aware of theft or vandalism of trail signs, please contact the DNRE’s Report All Poaching line at 800-292-7800.