Big Trees At WDFW Hatchery Grounds Vandalized

As if attacks on salmon production aren’t enough, vandals have taken chainsaws and axes to trees at WDFW’s Puyallup Fish Hatchery, leading to some old trees having to be taken down to keep the public safe on the grounds of the 120-acre facility.

WDFW Police report that trees from 50 to 200 years old have been partially cut, including a big old Douglas fir that was three-quarters of the way chainsawed through and ready to fall, and it’s cost over $6,000 to remove the hazards so far.

They say if the illegal activities continue, a trail system on the grounds just a few blocks from the state fairgrounds where the Washington Sportsmen’s Show was just held may have to be closed.

Along with rearing 700,000 Chinook, 300,000 coho and 170,000 rainbow trout, the facility is open year-round to the public and it serves as an educational center that is open on Saturdays and staffed by volunteers from the Puyallup Historical Hatchery Foundation.

“Through a partnership with the Puyallup School District and the Puyallup Historical Hatchery Foundation, classes of fourth grade STEM students arrive at the hatchery in the fall when salmon are returning to Clarks Creek. Their outdoor learning experience includes education on salmon lifecycle/migration, human impact on our environment, and science. Unfortunately, if this illegal activity continues, the Clarks Creek Loop trail system may become restricted to public access,” WDFW Police posted on their Facebook page.

Late this afternoon, WDFW spokeswoman Bridget Mire said that the first report of trees being cut goes back to March 2024 and the most recent damage was seen last month.

“Looking at the marks on the trees, we determined it was chainsaws. The professional hired to fell the trees agreed with this assessment,” Mire said. “The area where the vandalism occurred is not close to the hatchery or residences, so the noise would not have been as obvious. The city of Puyallup alerted us to some of the cases, and we’ve been keeping in contact with them. It wasn’t any work that they had done.”

In response to questions raised online about whether well-meaning trail or park crews might have started cutting the trees before being told not to, Mire stated, “Neither WDFW nor the City of Puyallup permitted any volunteer group to cut these trees.”

WDFW is asking for anyone with information about Jackass Paul Bunyan to contact WDFW Enforcement at either (877) 933-9847, https://bit.ly/3MdHwd6, or by texting WDFWTIP at TIP411 (847411).