The Bighorn National Forest is searching for the owners of about 10 campers left near the Medicine Wheel Ranger District for “years and years and years and years” according to a Forest official. Those campers are no longer welcome as the Forest Service updates its 14-day dispersed camping rule.

“Most have not moved for a while and possibly were abandoned,” said Lisa Balch, acting public affairs officer.

The campers were allowed to stay due to an unwritten understanding between former Bighorn National Forest supervisors and camping enthusiasts. Now, after officials changed the camping regulations earlier this year to a year-round 14-day rule, the forgotten campers have to go.

“It was never an established agreement,” Balch said. “We’re hoping the owners are still in the area and can come retrieve their property.”

The new dispersed camping rule prohibits camping in the Bighorn National Forest for more than 14 days within a 28-day period without moving all equipment and personal property a minimum of 5 road miles after the 14th day.

Forest Supervisor Andrew Johnson signed the new occupancy and use special order in May regulating camping and other recreational activities in the Bighorn National Forest. That came after the Big Horn Mountain Country Coalition, which includes citizens in each of the four counties as part of a collaborative task force, presented a list of recommendations to forest officials.

“A lot of people are happy about the new policy and a lot are not,” Balch said.

The Medicine Wheel Ranger District had allowed for several decades limited use of long-term storage for campers off Forest Service Road 648. This past year, the district closely examined its authority to provide this use and the impacts of this long-term storage.

Mark Foster, the district ranger, determined that the lawful and appropriate course of action consistent with new Occupancy and Use Prohibitions is to pause the long-term storage of campers on the district.

The Bighorn National Forest is evaluating options for long-term storage including operations by external concessionaires, consistent with the recommendation from the Bighorn dispersed camping citizens task force and from public comments.

The public may still use the site but must comply with the 14-day stay limit requirements, similar to the rest of the forest. Property, like camp trailers, left after 14 days will be subject to a notice of violation and fines, as well as possible seizure and removal, the forest said in a Thursday press release.

Forest property managers are also cracking down on wildlife food attractants left out by those camping in the forest. Three black bears have been euthanized this summer, according to Balch, but the crackdown is an effort to provide safety to all visitors and the forest’s wildlife.

The Bighorn National Forest offers nearly 192,000 acres of wilderness, and over 1,200 miles of trails for visitors to explore.