Pocono News Section

Fish Killed & Stolen in Vandalism Spree

Fish Killed & Stolen in Vandalism Spree - Monday, March 2, 2009 at 11:58PM EST

NOXEN TWP., WYOMING COUNTY- A trout farm in Wyoming County is targeted by vandals. Dozens of fish were killed and that's not all.
Bowman's Creek Trout Farm was vandalized sometime this weekend. Farm owner John Sedeski spoke with Eyewitness News Monday afternoon.

It's estimated some 65 trout were swiped from the farm while 15 more were killed. We're told each fish was worth about $17. The owner said the breeder-sized trout were being raised for the Noxen Derby.

“Then they just dipped all the trout, they had huge nets and they kept dipping and throwing them on the ground where they died and of course today I'm up here and I'm trying to clean it all up and get them all out and get this hatchery in shape for spring,” he said.

Sedeski lives in Wilkes-Barre and makes the 50-mile round trip almost daily to the Noxen Township hatchery.

He says three chickens were also killed. Aside from the dead fish and birds, the vandals smashed windows in a chapel on the property Sedeski and his family built. “It was just malicious mischief for no good reason and I'll put it back together. I don't mind. It's something to do,” he said.

Sedeski says children love to come to the trout farm and he hardly makes a profit. He says the damage is disturbing, given it's none of the usual suspects. You know, you live in the woods, you have to put up with a lot of stuff. So it wasn't the bear chasing 'em, or it wasn't coyotes going after them or a couple of skunks chasing them. We had little things like that all the time. But this was human and it was stupid,” he said.

The owner tells us the ordeal may force Noxen Derby organizers to cancel. Police are looking for help in the case. If you have information, give them a call.