Church of Satan and US Forest Service agree: No satanic rituals being held in CA forest

Official-looking signs, stamped with the U.S. Forest Service logo, warn visitors of a variety of depraved activities in a California national forest: Satanic rituals, animal sacrifices and people gone mysteriously missing.

But the signs are a hoax, San Bernardino National Forest rangers say in a Twitter post.

“This is not an official Forest Service sign, and there (are) no known threats of this type to visitors,” the post, titled “Rumor Control,” reads.

The Church of Satan agrees.

“Satanism forbids harming animals and as an atheistic religion, we don’t believe there is anything to make a sacrifice to,” the organization wrote in a reply to the post.

“This is the kind of Satanic Panic era nonsense that ruined countless innocent people’s lives, we appreciate your efforts to help debunk it,” the church wrote.

A photo posted by San Bernardino National Forest rangers shows the official-looking sign posted on a campground bulletin board.

“Unsafe area, visitor assumes all risk,” the sign reads. “Attention campers: Due to increased Satanic Cult activity in the area, camping is not advised until further notice.”

The sign then claims several pets have been sacrificed in satanic rituals and people have been reported missing. It names several campgrounds supposedly affected and warns people to leave immediately if they spot any suspicious activity.

Rangers asked that anyone with information on the bogus signs contact them at 909-383-5651.

This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 5:55 PM with the headline "Church of Satan and US Forest Service agree: No satanic rituals being held in CA forest."