Concerned Blair County, Pennsylvania, residents have contacted PETA regarding the fates of fish and other aquatic animals whose lives hang in the balance as the lake at Lakemont Park, reportedly owned by Blair County, is drained so that sediment can be removed. According to news reports and eyewitnesses, the water level has already been dramatically lowered and the fish who remain are struggling to survive in the shallow water. Many other aquatic animals also call the pond home, including large turtles. All these animals face a horrifying death by suffocation or desiccation if they are not rescued. A group of local residents have banded together and appear willing to undertake all the work and expense necessary to relocate the animals to private ponds (state law prohibits relocation to state-owned waterways), but the agencies in charge have apparently refused to grant permission for the rescue to take place.

PETA contacted the Blair County Conservation District, whose representative claims that a plan is in place to remove the fish, but the representative refused to elaborate further regarding this plan or to explain whether a plan existed to help the turtles and other species. This is especially concerning since Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officials apparently feel that allowing the fish to die and rot on site—or throwing the animals into a “dead hole”—is an acceptable plan!

These animals desperately need your voice now! Please contact decisionmakers and urge them to take immediate steps to ensure that the fish and other aquatic animals in the lake at Lakemont Park are treated humanely. Let them know that under no circumstance is it acceptable to allow these sentient animals to suffocate or desiccate, particularly when humane alternatives exist.

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