Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

3 questioned in Death Valley endangered fish vandalism

National Park Service

National Park Service via AP

In this still image taken from security video Saturday, April 30, 2016, and released by the National Park Service, three men are inside the perimeter fence at the edge of Devils Hole in Death Valley National Park.

Officials say three Nevada men have been questioned about vandalism in an environmentally fragile area of Death Valley National Park that may have killed one of the rarest fishes on earth.

Nye County Sheriff's Sgt. David Boruchowitz (buh-ROOK'-uh-witz) said Friday that no arrests have been made in the April 30 incident while authorities continue to investigate.

He said the men from Pahrump, Indian Springs and North Las Vegas may face federal charges in the death of at least one critically endangered Devils Hole pupfish.

Only 115 of the inch-long fish were found in a periodic count last month in their deep water-filled cavern at Devils Hole.

The National Park Service says security video recorded the men firing a shotgun and leaving beer cans, vomit and boxer shorts in the water.

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