Much like an anthropologist, Leon Israel has been digging through a pile of junk dumped on his Clinton property to learn more about the people who left it behind.

Israel hopes to track the culprits down, because the pile of debris and garbage is “an eyesore, and it will cost me a lot of money and effort to haul this away.”

“I can’t leave it here, because it will attract rats and cause other problems,” he said while standing beside the unsightly heap.

Israel is just one of 153 people in Island County who have reported having other peoples’ garbage dumped on their property. Like the others, he reported the incident to the Island County Sheriff’s Office. He also plans to help deputies with their investigation.

Giving the pile a once over, Israel figures the dumpers are remodeling a home somewhere because he found chunks of sheetrock, rolls of carpet, crumbled pieces of tile and what appears to be the remains of a faux brick room divider

But there are other clues to their lifestyle as well. They may not have left their names behind, but items in the pile tell a few secrets.

Digging a little deeper reveals the culprit owns a dog or two.

“They are probably large dogs,” Israel said as he held up one of two empty 25-pound dog food bags.

The stack also reveals the person has a preference for Budweiser beer, and has purchased several new items, a turntable, water heater, ironing board, and coffee pot.

Israel hopes to eventually find something with a name and address on it. If he does, that might allow law enforcement to find the dumpers and fine them.

Island County Sheriff Mike Hawley said the number of illegal dumping and littering calls are on the rise.

“A number of factors are contributing to the increase including more people moving to and visiting Island County,” he said. “Also, in the current economy, people are dumping unwanted items and garbage to save the dumping fees.”

Last year Island County outlawed burn barrels and “this summer’s burn bans, contribute to the problem,” Hawley said, which took away one legitimate, albeit polluting, way to dispose of trash.

“The unintended consequence of clean air appears to be a littered landscape,” Hawley said.

Speaking of all types of littering, Hawley said motorists can be fined $95 if they don’t have a litter bag in their vehicles. Anyone tossing a cigarette out the window is subject to a minimum fine of $250.

If it happens to start a brush fire, the fine can be $500.

Jill Campbell, the co-owner of Island Recycle in Freeland, says people can bring their loads to her and she is happy to recommend the cheapest and best option for disposal.

Some things, like construction debris, should go straight to Island County Transfer Station in Coupeville, but reusable things, like doors, can be left at Island Recycling at no cost.

In the meantime, Leon Israel is still around the trash pile in hopes of discovering who left it behind.

When and if they are discovered either by Israel or sheriff deputies, their bargain dump will cost them.

According the Island County code there are several levels of fines depending on the amount of litter dumped. For one cubic foot or less, the fine is $103; from one cubic foot to one cubic yard, $250; and over one cubic yard is $500.

What’s the cost of legal disposal?

Some of the most common items dumped illegally can be taken to Freeland’s Island Recycling for just a few dollars. Plus, there’s no risk of a criminal citation.

Appliances: $10 (no refrigerators or freezers)

Tires: $6 -$7;

Mattresses and box springs: $10 ea./twin, $14 ea./double,

$16 ea./queen $18 ea. /king.