Officials last week dismantled a sprawling illegal marijuana cultivation site hidden deep inside Sequoia National Park, hauling out thousands of plants and nearly a ton of toxic debris that had scarred the wilderness.

Crews removed 2,377 full-grown marijuana plants and nearly 2,000 pounds of trash and infrastructure from a site that damaged roughly 13 acres in the protected California parkland, the National Park Service (NPS) said on Thursday. Much of the material was removed by hand and lifted out by helicopter by NPS law enforcement rangers as well as Bureau of Land Management special agents, the agency added.

Authorities said the cultivation bore the hallmarks of a well-organized drug-trafficking operation—the kind that has plagued Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for nearly 20 years. In that time, officials eradicated close to 300,000 plants worth an estimated $850 million inside the two parks.

Authorities first discovered the marijuana farm in 2024, and while they raided it at the time they did not remove it entirely until this year due to the presence of dangerous chemicals, according to NPS. When crews returned this year, they found a semi-automatic pistol, makeshift campsites with kitchen areas and chemicals including approximately a gallon of the insecticide Methamidophos, which was banned in the U.S. more than 15 years ago.

CHILD PREDATOR AMONG MORE THAN 300 NABBED IN CANNABIS FARM ICE RAID, LARGEST OF TRUMP'S SECOND TERM

Rangers also found far more than just the marijuana plants, documenting that they observed evidence of poaching, the clearing out of natural vegetation, nearly two miles of illegal trails, terraced grow plots carved into the hillside, and large pits that appeared to have been created to store water that was diverted from a nearby creek.

UNION SAYS FARM WORKER DIED AFTER ICE RAID THAT UNCOVERED UNDERAGE LABORERS

Officials said the impact of the illegal growing operation extends far beyond the 13 acres it occupied.

Runoff from the site may have been contaminated by a large variety of pesticides that were used in growing marijuana, the NPS said, potentially exposing both park visitors and wildlife to toxic materials.  

DOJ CHARGES SEVEN CHINESE NATIONALS IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING RING

Creeks siphoned to supply water for both the crops and camps would have otherwise nurtured wildlife and park vegetation, the NPS said. Each marijuana plant can consume six to eight gallons of water per day, the agency added, citing the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Fox News Digital reached out to the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management for more information.

No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about illegal cultivation on park land is asked to call the NPS tip line at 888-653-0009.

Major League Baseball is facing a serious dilemma with online threats directed at its players and their families. 

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Cade Povich was the second MLB player this week to reveal a horrifying threat directed at his wife from a disgruntled fan on social media. The left-handed pitcher posted a screenshot of the message, which included an apparent threat of sexual violence against Povich’s wife. 

"I understand that I may not have performed or have gotten the results that I, my team, or many fans may have wanted so I get the frustration," Povich’s post on X read. "Say what you want about me in that regard. However, going out of your way to DM my wife is unacceptable and what is shown in this image is crossing the line."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"Me, or especially my wife, should not have to worry about our safety in the public, nonetheless church, because of how I perform on the mound." 

The message was sent after Povich was pulled with two outs in the fifth inning of the Houston Astros’ 10-7 win over the Orioles on Friday night. 

"I’m coming on here to say something about this because I know my family is not alone," his message continued. "This stuff does not belong in the game."

And Povich was, unfortunately, not alone in dealing with the harassment. 

MARINERS PITCHER SHARES VILE MESSAGE HE RECEIVED AFTER POOR PERFORMANCE

On Thursday, Seattle Mariners pitcher Tayler Saucedo shared an alarming threat aimed at him and his girlfriend. The message came after Saucedo recorded only one out, allowed four hits and walked one batter in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 11-2 win over Seattle on Wednesday.

The profanity-laced message included a threat that Saucedo’s "head gets blown to pieces," and that his girlfriend "dying too would be awesome as well." 

"I understand wanting me gone after today and this year as a whole. Nobody is more disappointed with how this year has gone for me than myself. Trust me, I want to win just as much as all of you whether I'm here or not. But messaging me this bulls--- and my girlfriend and sending this stuff is beyond baseball," Saucedo wrote in a post on X. "It’s insane how comfortable people are sending this stuff to not only me but my partner. Tell me I suck all you want, that's fine but at some point we gotta get a grip." 

These incidents are not isolated. 

Last month, Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito said he confronted MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred about online bullying. He said he believed online sports betting and social media access have increased the harassment that athletes face. 

"It only goes so far," he said.  "Is it going to take a player getting assaulted in front of their apartment building by some disgruntled guy that lost a bet for real action to be taken?"

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.