A man who was apparently living in an Arizona national forest for eight years was found in an encampment surrounded by about 1,000 pounds of trash, according to officials.
On June 25, two U.S. national forest rangers found the 65-year-old Mark Aaron Gatz, at his illegal campsite at Tonto National Park in central Arizona, according to a probable cause statement. The campsite, located along National Forest System Road 1006, contained a wood-burning fire.
Gatz told the officers he had been living in that location for two years and had been living in the Payson Pine area of the forest for a total of eight years, according to the statement.
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Federal regulations limit camping in national forests to 14 days within a 30-day period, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Length of camping time is limited in order to protect natural resources from degradation and ensure fair access to all visitors, according to the USDA.
On June 25, two U.S. national forest rangers found the 65-year-old Mark Aaron Gatz, at his illegal campsite at Tonto National Park in central Arizona, according to a probable cause statement. The campsite, located along National Forest System Road 1006, contained a wood-burning fire.
Gatz told the officers he had been living in that location for two years and had been living in the Payson Pine area of the forest for a total of eight years, according to the statement.
MORE: America 250: David Muir showcases national parks and Native tribes that call them home
Federal regulations limit camping in national forests to 14 days within a 30-day period, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Length of camping time is limited in order to protect natural resources from degradation and ensure fair access to all visitors, according to the USDA.
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