Scottish Canals is going to remove the “Beware of Bear” graffiti that has appeared on an historic tunnel under the Caledonian Canal.
But it admitted that it was unlikely to be able to do so until after the busy summer season.
The Government agency responsible for managing the country’s inland waterways is also asking the public to help protect the heritage of the 200-year-old canal.
The artwork, which consists of a drawing of a bear, along with the warning “Beware of Bear”, has been painted on to the stone walls of one of the under-passes that form the Mount Alexander Aquaduct, about half a mile north of Neptune’s Staircase at Banavie.
A spokesman for Scottish Canals said: “While we are committed to safeguarding the rich built heritage of the canals, we do not have a dedicated graffiti removal team and, as we are in our peak season, our focus is currently on facilitating boat movements and other operational duties.
“Our staff carry out a full range of tasks to ensure these monuments survive for future generations to enjoy and always endeavour to remove graffiti as quickly as possible.
“While we recognise the talent on show in this design, we ask that the public help protect the 200-year-old heritage of the Caledonian Canal by refraining from using its structures as an artistic canvas.”
The aquaduct was built by Thomas Telford in 1815 during the construction of the canal.
It consists of two parallel tunnels under the canal, one for the burn, the other to provide pedestrian access to Mount Alexander Farm and for water at high-tide.
The graffiti is at the eastern end of the pedestrian tunnel
The situation came to light when a photograph of the artwork appeared in the latest publication of the Kilmallie Community News asking locals what they thought of it.
It was dubbed the “Canal Banksy” and people living in the area were asked whether they considered it to be “outrageous vandalistic desecration of a Scheduled Ancient Monument or delightful, gentle humour, nicely executed”.
Banksy is an anonymous British graffiti artist known for his graffiti artwork. He began his spray-painting antics in Bristol in the early 1990s, then moved on to other parts of England and, by the early 2000s, his graffiti was appearing all over the world.
The artist usually uses stencils so the painting can be created in a short time.