Cactus plugging
Encyclopedia
Cactus plugging is the practice of vandalizing
or destroying a cactus
,
usually a saguaro
, for fun. Typically the cactus is cut open, drained, then packed with explosives and ignited. In another variation, the vandal simply shoots bullets into the cactus body until portions fall off or the entire cactus falls over.
In one notorious incident in 1982, one David Grundman was killed when an arm of the saguaro he was "plugging" fell on him. A song by the Austin Lounge Lizards
(co-written by Ann Clardy) poked fun at Grundman's stupidity.
The act of cactus plugging, if performed on a saguaro
, is illegal. In any case, it is a particularly destructive form of vandalism
, as saguaros require over a hundred years to reach a substantial height.
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
or destroying a cactus
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
,
usually a saguaro
Saguaro
The saguaro is a large, tree-sized cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in the U.S. state of Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, a small part of Baja California in the San Felipe Desert and an extremely small area of California, U.S...
, for fun. Typically the cactus is cut open, drained, then packed with explosives and ignited. In another variation, the vandal simply shoots bullets into the cactus body until portions fall off or the entire cactus falls over.
In one notorious incident in 1982, one David Grundman was killed when an arm of the saguaro he was "plugging" fell on him. A song by the Austin Lounge Lizards
Austin Lounge Lizards
The Austin Lounge Lizards are a band from Austin, Texas formed in 1980. The band includes founding members Hank Card and Conrad Deisler, along with Darcie Deaville and Bruce Jones...
(co-written by Ann Clardy) poked fun at Grundman's stupidity.
The act of cactus plugging, if performed on a saguaro
Saguaro
The saguaro is a large, tree-sized cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in the U.S. state of Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, a small part of Baja California in the San Felipe Desert and an extremely small area of California, U.S...
, is illegal. In any case, it is a particularly destructive form of vandalism
Vandalism
Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable...
, as saguaros require over a hundred years to reach a substantial height.