DOOR CO. (WITI) -- Officials in Door County are investigating an incident in which someone chopped down 639 young cherry trees at a Sister Bay orchard causing about $20,000 worth of damage.
The suspect or suspects struck Seaquist Orchards sometime between late Wednesday night, September 18th and early Thursday morning, September 19th.
"There's not a lot of evidence here so we're just offering a $1,000 reward for anyone that will give us information that leads us to an arrest and conviction because we don't want this activity in our neighborhood," said owner Jim Seaquist.
The trees had been growing since April and could have been harvested in five years. Thirteen workers spent three weeks planting the crop.
"They're probably more upset that I am," said Seaquist. "To me, it's kind of a sad reflection that there's someone that's going to do this."
Seaquist says new trees will be planted next spring, but they will be a full year behind others in the orchard.
The Door County Sheriff's Department is investigating the destruction of property. Anyone with information is urged to call authorities.