FWP seeks information about slashed, stabbed fish in Giant Springs feeding pond

FWP seeks information about slashed, stabbed fish in Giant Springs feeding pond

Source: Great Falls Tribune

8/26/2021

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is looking for the person or persons who broke into the Giant Springs Fish Hatchery Sunday night and slashed and stabbed more than a dozen mature trout in the hatchery's circular feeding pond.

According to FWP Game Warden Andrew Burton, the dead and injured fish were found Monday morning by hatchery staff. Burton believes someone scaled the eight- to 10-feet high chain link fence that encloses the feeding pond sometime after sunset on Sunday.

The vandal then used a knife to cut and stab the trout. Wardens found fish blood, scales and roe on the fence where fish had been hoisted over it.

"There was one fish that was dead in the Roe River about 10 yards from the actual pond," Burton said. "There were fish belly up in the pond, and there were some fish that had to be euthanized because they were incapable of swimming. In total, there were about six fish killed and another seven to nine that are still inside the pond exhibiting slash marks and stab wounds on them."