BLM: Beware of metal spikes tossed on Montana roads

So I guess we’re in Game of Thrones now? The Bureau of Land Management is dropping a note to alert Montanans to a small problem somewhere in Hunt District 380: someone’s throwing around some homemade “caltrops.” If you’ve never heard of those, imagine rusty nails twisted together in such a way that no matter how you drop them, one point is always sticking upward. They were originally used to slow cavalry charges by hurting the horses.

Not Just a Blow-Out Event

This isn’t an ordinary pothole or shattered shock absorber. Clip one of these things and you’re out a tire, your rims are toast, and you might wind up in the ditch, wondering what you did to end up in the middle of nowhere with a flat. These aren’t some artsy welding projects that are just taking up space; they are made to destroy. And before you say “it’s just one tire,” keep in mind it only takes a single swerve for this to become a bad day for all involved.

BLM Wants to Know Who’s Playing Spike Ball

The BLM isn’t amused. They’ve found about a dozen of these welded fence-staple little doohickeys and are asking for the public’s help to figure out who’s doing it. If you’ve noticed something suspicious in District 380, like, say, someone walking around with a bucket of homemade jacks that could be used as medieval weapons? Please do give them a call.

Montana, Keep Your Eyes Peeled

Winter driving, deer on the road, gas prices...We’ve got enough to worry about. We don’t need wannabe saboteurs turning BLM roads into spike traps. And just before archery season, too. Hunt District 380 is the entire Elkhorn Mountain Range. So if you’re cruising through out there in District 380, keep your eyes on the road and those tires rollin’.