The State - News from May 29, 1987

A group of environmental activists, operating under the name Earth First!, have taken responsibility for Monday night’s vandalism at the University of California field station in Tulelake. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a spokesman for the group claimed that it is “definitely taking credit” for the Tulelake vandalism. “This is an Earth First! event . . . .” Vandals uprooted about half of 4,000 potato plants being used in an experiment to test a genetically engineered bacterium designed to protect the plants from frost. The uprooted seedlings were replanted and another scheduled spraying with the Ice Minus bacteria took place without incident. UC spokesman Mike Lassiter said it is unlikely that the university will take any legal action against the vandals, unless the sheriff catches and prosecutes them. “Our concern is more that the project carry forth to its conclusion,” he said.