MONUMENT, Colo. -- The U.S. Forest Service is looking for the "SpongeBob fanatics" who painted the cartoon character on the chimney of a historic building.

The 10-foot-tall painting of Nickelodeon character "SpongeBob SquarePants" turned up on a cabin in the Pike National Forest that used to be the Forest Service's tree nursery until it was abandoned in the 1930s. Forest Service law enforcement officer Tom Healy said the incident is part of an increase in vandalism in the area.

Officials said whoever painted the cartoon on the chimney brought four colors of paint and spent a lot of time doing it.

Healy said it will cost several thousand dollars to wipe the animated yellow sea sponge's image from the site.