NEVADA (KTNV) — Traditionally, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff to summer.
For hikers and campers of all skill levels, it's a chance to enjoy the great outdoors. Representatives from Clark County's Desert Conservation Program remind all those heading for the mountains and deserts in the region to respect nature and its inhabitants.
"We want people to come out and enjoy the scenery, the plant life and the wildlife," said DCP Senior Biologist Scott Cambrin. "All we ask of people is to follow a few basic rules and respect the land and the animals."
Those rules include:
· "Pack it in, pack it out." Whatever you take onto public land, it comes back with you.
· "Leave no trace." Stay on the roads and hiking trails and no littering.
· Use off-highway vehicle (OHV) equipment in designated areas only.
· Do not remove, "pick" or disturb plant life and vegetation.
· Do not remove, pick up, touch or disturb wildlife.
"The only thing people should be taking is a picture to share on Instagram," said Cambrin.
Also, DCP encourages everyone to follow CDC guidelines to protect from acquiring or spreading the COVID-19 virus:
· If you are sick or feeling sick, please stay home.
· Maintain six feet of social distance from others.
· Take hand sanitizer and wash your hands when you get home.
"Respecting our desert and all its inhabitants ensures everyone can appreciate it," Cambrin said. "In a sense, it belongs to all of us, so we all need to be responsible, be respectful and take care of our lands."
