The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is asking the public to assist in identifying persons of interest for vandalism of a cellular trail camera and the taking of salmon from a fish trap at the Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery in southern Oregon.
Two people and a black German shepherd were first spotted by a trail camera at the hatchery on Aug. 12, 2024, and returned on Aug. 27, 2024, when they entered the stream around the fish trap, attempting to spear or gaff salmon, a news release from OSP said.
Trail camera photos showed one individual operating a red Harley-Davidson or similar motorcycle and the second operating a black sport bike. They were wearing motorcycle helmets.
On July 5, two masked people matching the description and build of the suspects from 2024, along with a black German shepherd, were seen on trail cameras approaching the outflow fish trap.
Police said one person crossed the river and ripped the antenna off the cellular camera while the second remained on shore holding what looked like a large salmon net.
Fish and wildlife troopers responded the next day to find the broken antenna and the trail camera pushed to the side.
Personnel from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife later found the lock to the fish trap had been cut to gain access to the fish. An unknown number of salmon were netted from the fish trap.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-452-7888, *OSP (*677) from a mobile phone, or email [email protected]. Reference case number #SP25-355670.
Mariah Johnston is an outdoors journalism intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Police seek info on suspects who vandalized Oregon fish hatchery
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