A new draining and dredging project at Lakemont Park Lake in Pennsylvania threatens the livelihood of hundreds of fish, turtles, and other pond-dwelling animals.
The dredging project, overseen by the Blair County government and Intergovernmental Stormwater Committee, aims to prevent excess sediment from reaching the Chesapeake Bay.
But the agencies failed to take into account the well-being of the area’s wildlife. After work on the project began, disturbing images surfaced of fish crowded together in shallow, muddy water with their bodies partially exposed to the air.
Hundreds of protestors gathered last week in Blair County, Pa. to peacefully protest the needless deaths of thousands of the lake’s wildlife. The “Save the Fish at Lakemont” campaign urges local public officials to remove and relocate any surviving animals, according to the group’s Facebook page.
Despite the unforeseen deaths of local wildlife, Blair County doesn’t plan to halt work at the site, according to an In Defense of Animals press release.
“Blair County Commissioners must stop this horror now and work with In Defense of Animals and local activists to create a temporary holding pond for the fish,” said Lisa Levinson of In Defense of Animals.
Activist and organizer Mark Conrad said the odor of the water below the lake would make people gag.
“The lower water became putrid from dead, decomposing, and dying fish,” Conrad said. “Dead animals likely suffocated to death due to low oxygen content from decomposition in the water.”
Anyone interested in helping with this urgent cause is asked to join the campaign’s Facebook group.
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I could not sign because when I signed They used my phone number to ring and ask for money
Shame on mankind for producing so many people with no empathy kindness or love for the natural world and all of her helpless voiceless innocent peaceful perfect fellow earthlings. There is nothing humane about humans.
Why can’t humans learn to work with nature instead of against it.
Why do people keep getting away with animal cruelty?
Why do people keep getting away with animal cruelty?
Why do people keep getting away with animal cruelty?
Those who assist in the destruction of this earth are doomed to God’s punishment, whether you believe it or not. These two-legged creatures do nothing but cause havoc and annihilation wherever they have planted their Neanderthal feet. These “things” have no concern for the environment or its inhabitants, be it animal or human.
Stop the madness!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please stop destroying our planet and all creatureson it.
do these companies they are killing not only the lake and its inhabitants but in the end themselves and their descendants.
JERK PEOPLE WHO DON’T GIVE A FIG ABOUT ANIMALS. THESE ANIMALS LOST THEIR HOME BECAUSE OF HUMAN GREED & STUPIDITY!
SHAMEFUL, utterly indefensible behavior toward wildlife by all concerned – Blair County Commissioners, local government agencies, everyone involved who DIDN’T CARE and just thought no one would notice the suffering and dead and dying fish, turtles, etc.
Absolutely no reason why these fish and amphibians cannot be put into temporary/private ponds. If they lived in this lake (for something like 50 years!) then claims of invasive species or problems are ridiculous.
Your second link leads to a different page. Here is the correct one: https://www.idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/latest-news/pennsylvania-fish-cruelty-live-composting/
Blair County Commissioners must stop this horror now and work with In Defense of Animals and local activists to create a temporary holding pond for the fish!
Another act of cruelty towards innocent animals.
Save the creatures first. Drain last.
Save the creatures first. Drain last.
What was the plan to drain the pond? Who was responsible for doing the SENSIBLE AND HUMANE thing for all who LIVED IN THE POND? Did NO ONE think about that?
This stupidity and appalling cruelty must be rectified.
The fish and turtles need to be saved beforecthe lake is drained!
Please save the turtles!
Blair County Commissioners are a group of stupid sadist and should be voted out at the next elections.
Stop this atrocity!
Stop murdering the innocent
Thank you for the alert. Despite the many appeals for compassion that the county commissioners received, the many volunteers who offered to help, the expertise that was made available, and the very viable ability to save the untold thousands of animals at Lakemont Park, the county heartlessly went ahead and drained the lake yesterday. A worker was even filmed chucking rocks at the struggling victims: https://www.facebook.com/FishFeel.org/posts/2829662267257187
The project was financed with a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Federation. Please let them know what you think of their funds -which include taxpayer money- being used to cause animals to suffer and die:
https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/Contact-Us
Mary, thank you for providing this info. These bastards need to hear from the taxpayers!
I love and care for all animals. But sometimes animals are forgotten for the sake of human benefits. Man’s interest should always protect the life of animals. Thank you to all protesters that care for their lives