Vandals cause $10,000 in damages to Forest Service gates on Swede Mountain

Vandals caused an estimated $10,000 in damages to seven gates in the vicinity of Swede Mountain, the Forest Service announced Wednesday.

The gates were found “damaged or destroyed” earlier in May and located on Forest Roads within the Swede Mountain area of the Libby Ranger District on the Kootenai National Forest, the news release states. Officials believe the damage occurred even earlier in the spring.

Damage ranged from arm bars being badly bent in half or broken to bell housings being ripped out of the ground or bent.

Officials asked people with information about the vandalism to call Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations at 406-758-5297 or the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department at 406-293-4112.

According to the news release, a reward may be available for information leading to the arrest or conviction of anyone responsible.