Texas park faces prickly pear cacti vandalism

Wildlife officials at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Texas, are urging visitors to stop carving shapes into the park's prickly pear cacti. Recently, visitors have been engraving smiley faces and hearts into the cacti, which can cause severe harm, including the death of the cactus pads or entire plants. Officials remind visitors that damaging plants is against park rules and disrupts the natural ecosystem. Prickly pear cacti, native to Texas, are protected and cherished for their ecological and cultural significance. Previous instances of park vandalism include graffiti at the summit of Enchanted Rock.