The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office are investigating two acts of vandalism that occurred on the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
An LDWF bulldozer and utility vehicle (UTV) were first noticed missing on July 24 on the Big Island portion of Atchafalaya Delta WMA. LDWF staff found the missing equipment later that evening on Big Island. The bulldozer was buried in mud and water up to the floorboard. The UTV was found stuck in a ditch.
The equipment was vandalized between July 19 when it was last seen by LDWF staff and July 24 when it was noticed missing.
LDWF is offering up to a $1,000 reward for anybody that volunteers information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case. Anyone with tips or leads can call LDWF's Operation Game Thief's (OGT) toll free hotline at 1-800-442-2511 or text LDWF OGT by texting LADWF and their tip to 847411. Tipsters can also download the LADWF Tips iPhone and Android apps from iTunes and Google Play stores free of charge.
The total damage done to the equipment and the costs associated with retrieving both pieces of equipment are unknown at this time.
The Big Island portion of the Atchafalaya Delta WMA is only accessible by vessel.