The Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division is seeking public assistance in identifying persons of interest in the vandalism of a cellular trail camera and the taking of salmon from a fish trap at the Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery near Trail.
OSP reports two individuals were first spotted by a trail camera at the hatchery on August 12, 2024, and they returned three days later wearing motorcycle helmets when they entered the stream around the fish trap, attempting to spear salmon.
Trail camera photos showed one individual operating a red Harley Davidson or similar motorcycle and the second operating a black sport bike. The subjects were accompanied by a black German shepherd.
On July 5th of this year at about 5 a.m., two masked individuals matching the description and builds of the two subjects in 2024 were captured on a trail camera approaching the outflow fish trap. They were again accompanied by a black German shepherd. One individual waded across the river and ripped the antenna off the cellular camera while the second individual remained on shore holding what looked like a large salmon net.
The following day, OSP game troopers found the broken antenna and the trail camera pushed to the side. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 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 trap.
Anyone with any information on this incident is urged to call the Turn in Poachers Tip Line at 1(800)-452-7888, dial *OSP from a mobile phone or send an email to "TIP@osp.oregon.gov." Please reference Case #SP25-355670.
