Campers STT

Are they on public or private property, beaches? Are they bothering anyone, creating a mess or a disturbance?

DPNR

I will try to take photo to document to DPNR tomorrow. I see a tent near Red Hook ferry all the time. Saturday may have been another.

Illegal campers contribute to litter and other issues. They should be reported and fined.

Illegal campers contribute to litter and other issues. They should be reported and fined.

Which doesn't answer the question, viz, "Are they on public or private property, beaches? Are they bothering anyone, creating a mess or a disturbance?"

Let DPNR sort it out.

Illegal campers contribute to litter and other issues. They should be reported and fined.

What? In my experience most campers that I know of (myself included) actually take trash from the beaches with us when we clean up.

Like someone else said- are they disturbing you? Are they being loud / leaving messes / damaging property? Is it private property? If yes, then report them. If not, leave them alone.

I don't mean to sound rude, but with all the problems the VI has choosing to waste your time with this seems a bit silly. If they're not squatting / living / disturbing people leave them be.

It's the small things that get overlooked as well.

Are they camping where there are bathroom facilities or just crapping, whatever? We do live in a society of rules and regulations which are there for a reason.

While you may be a responsible camper, not everyone is and the garbage left on our beaches can attest to that undeniable conclusion.

Well said, Don Exodus. The OP says there is a tent "near Red Hook" and there's no beach there anyway if beach-littering is the issue. With the hundreds of vehicles which go through Red Hook every day - along with a steady stream of VIPD vehicles - I somehow don't think that a messy campsite harboring a bunch of dirty squatters would go unnoticed.

Don't sweat the petty stuff.

Don - go to netjeberg and tell me that campers pick up after themselves. Last time I picked up TEN EFFING BAGS of trash and was SO embarrassed that someone crapped IN THE RUINS!! I took tourists there and was so embarrassed for our island furious that someone would do that in the ruins, I don't think I'll ever go back. How some islanders have no pride is beyond me.

Personally I'd report them as well to dpnr.

You could only see the tent from the water, and I saw it several times so it had to have been there for a while. Not sure if it's still there, because I stopped looking.

Putting DPNR's # in my phone...

Thanks.

Not all beach trash comes from campers. Without segueing into a long and involved copying and pasting and citing, ocean trash is a given and there are many local beaches that because of the prevailing flow of water are trash magnets. Years ago I lived very close to an isolated and un-used beach only accessible through the bush or from the water and every week I cleaned up bags of trash deposited on it - all brought in from the sea although from the variety of discards one could easily assume that huge parties were regularly being held there. "Crap in the ruins"? Without the benefit of a portable lab kit, can one determine that a fecal deposit comes from a squatting human rather than a squatting stray dog?

The OP saw a tent (or maybe perhaps possibly two) from the water and wants to report it to the authorities based on an assumption - but now says she hasn't seen the tent for a while because she "stopped looking".

We have many "Campers" here on STX. The one that comes to mind "lives" just above the hair pin turn on Rattan Rd. just up from 5 corners. Just inside the bush he has built a cardboard structure and has a hammock, he's been there for some time now. The place is also littered with trash of all kinds and you know where he eliminates his body waste. All I can say is that society has yet figured how to deal with this as California and many other states have large populations of "Campers".

Many temperate locations have the same problem, unfortunately. Since our islands have so much bush, it's fairly easy for many to hide in plain site.

I didn't say I was reporting the Red Hook tent - I just mentioned that's one I saw. I was concerned about that one, though, because it was so visible. Most other encampments try to be more discreet.

I didn't say I was reporting the Red Hook tent - I just mentioned that's one I saw.

You said, "Should I report them, and if so, to what agency?" I guess I read that as intent and apologize for misinterpreting.

Apology accepted. I'm not sure there is a second tent at another location, but want to check.

Don - go to netjeberg and tell me that campers pick up after themselves. Last time I picked up TEN EFFING BAGS of trash and was SO embarrassed that someone crapped IN THE RUINS!! I took tourists there and was so embarrassed for our island furious that someone would do that in the ruins, I don't think I'll ever go back. How some islanders have no pride is beyond me.

Personally I'd report them as well to dpnr.

Thanks for doing that. How are you sure it was from people camping and not randoms who drank and played on the beach all day?

Regardless, there are good and bad people everywhere and in every activity. I do feel, however, that people who camp in general tend to be pretty eco-friendly (thats why we're sleeping in the woods), and do our best to maintain the beaches.

Kind of like how scuba divers tend to be more respectful of sea life than the average beach-goer.

The last few times I took visitors to Njelteberg Beach I was totally embarrassed by the trash of every variety in the tree line.

Vessup Bay on Mon. mornings often has trash as well left over from the music parties but the situation at Njelteberg is lumber, tarps,abandoned furniture, chairs, tables, firepits, and loads of bottles,cans and food containers -- a disgusting display of disregard.

A differentiation is needed as to whether the discussion is about people camping (which tends to imply its just for a few days, recreation) vs. squatters vs. homeless people.

If its recreational camping for a few days and on the beach or coast line… not sure it’s illegal. I've called Parks and Recreation several times over the years and they indicated the beaches where camping was not allowed without a permit or outside a designated campground. Mostly parks, like Magens Bay which requires permit; and the National Park that has designated campgrounds. But for most other beaches they basically said camp at your own risk. Does anyone know for a fact or have a reference to a law that prohibits camping on shorelines in the VI?

If its squatters... isn't it the Police that usually investigate?

If it’s homeless; take a look at the page for Project USVI Homeless Connect. Seems to be sponsored by United Way. If you think it’s a homeless person, perhaps you might give United Way a call. See if they have or know of a program documenting where homeless people are living in an effort to reach out to them and provide help.

Don - in reply to your question:

I wont say that ALL campers in NBurg make a mess but I'm in hull bay almost every day as I work out of there and we get a lot of the squatters and campers that come to hull for food and drinks. I've met a handful. I ike to chat people up and find out where they're from and what their story is. Only one that I remember was kind enough and when I struck up the conversation about cleaning up he was admit about it. The rest I met were total low life - druggies - one in particular a female who got in a lot of trouble with some people over her camping ways.

Again not all but 1 in five isn't a good sign. Most of the squatters down there don't have cars either and wont be making that walk up the road with their trash. Once I saw fast food bags of trash on the graves down there. I mean WTF. Its really really sad but then again I pull out handfuls of trash from the water every day also. Unfortunately it seems to be in my DNA to pick up people mess - I feel totally guilty if I attempt to swim past trash in the water or walk by it on the beach. Sigh.

I googled camping st Thomas, and there's a post where someone from undisclosed location invited a couple to camp at undisclosed location, and gave them key so they could use restroom.

The noise from locals drove them away, but posts like that encourage others who are looking for a free, warm, beautiful place to stay.

I will report anybody I see camping in areas without permits. I'll let the VI govt determine if they're legal or not.

I agree and also not just for the issues discussed here but for their own safety. Camping in remote places can be dangerous to boot.