ALLEGAN COUNTY, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking for the public's help after someone disposed of hundreds of tires on state park land in Allegan County.
"About a week ago or so, a citizen called about an area that they frequently walk to get exercise in the Allegan State Game Area, they noticed some tires had been dumped," said Michigan DNR Lieutenant Gerald Thayer.
RELATED: Michigan DNR requesting tips on tires dumped in Allegan
That tip prompting an investigation by the DNR, finding multiple locations between Allegan and Fennville, adding up to as many as one thousand tires.
"Obviously, it is a blight issue. We try to protect our natural resources not only for our current citizens but for our future generations. You've got the blight issue. Nobody likes to go out for a walk in the woods and see that kind of litter," said Lt. Thayer.
The Michigan DNR said they believe the tires to be from either a tire shop or junkyard but are suspecting a person or company, those places could've hired, to have been the ones to have left them illegally.
"They don’t want to have them pay to have them properly disposed. They just pocket the money that they made and go and dump them, so they’re making money off of this most likely. It is hard to say until we find somebody. That is kind of what we are thinking at this point," said Lt. Thayer.
A majority of the tires were found on a snowmobile trail in the game area. The Michigan DNR said it worries them as tires generally attract large groups of mosquitoes in the warmer months.
"We have cleanup operations in place. It is just, we want to stop it. We don’t have the funding, the man power or the time to consistently always be cleaning up state land," said Lt. Thayer.
The Michigan DNR is looking for any leads or tips in multiple illegal dumplings of tires around #AlleganCounty.
— Lauren Kummer (@LaurenKummerTV) January 26, 2021
They are estimating they have found 800-1000 since last Wednesday. @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/6g1773IFLx
If you have any information or details regarding the illegal dumping of the tires, the Michigan DNR is asking you to contact their all-poaching hotline at 1-800-292-7800. You can call or text 24/7 and remain anonymous.
SEE MORE: ALLEGAN COUNTY
