Persons of interest sought after repeat Oregon salmon hatchery thefts

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Authorities are searching for two persons of interest after a trail camera was vandalized and salmon were poached from a Jackson County fish hatchery in 2024 and again in 2025.

According to Oregon State Police, the two persons of interest were first spotted by a trail camera at the Cole Rivers Fish Hatchery in Trail, Oregon on August 12, 2024, before returning to the hatchery Aug. 27, 2024. The persons of interest were seen wearing motorcycle helmets entering the stream around 8 p.m. and attempted to spear salmon, according to OSP.

Trail cameras showed one person driving a red Harley Davidson — or a similar motorcycle — while the second person drove a black sport bike, officials said, noting they also brought a black German Shepherd with them.

In a Monday press release, Oregon State Police said the persons of interest may have returned.

Around 5 a.m. July 5, 2025, two masked people – who match the description of the persons of interest from 2024 – were seen on camera approaching the outflow fish trap wearing baggy clothes and were accompanied by a black German Shepherd.

One of the people on camera waded across the river and ripped the antenna off of the cellular camera while the second person stayed on shore holding what appeared to be a large salmon net, authorities said.

The next day, fish and wildlife troopers discovered a broken antenna, and the trail camera pushed to the side

Staffers with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife later found the lock to the fish trap had been cut, officials said, noting an unknown number of salmon were netted from the trap.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Oregon State Police Turn in Poachers tip line at 1-800-452-7888.