Vandals killed 31 catfish at Woodland High School near Sacramento that were being raised as part of a Future Farmers of America project.

Several students had been working on a project raising channel catfish to show at the Yolo County Fair this week, the Woodland Record reported.

One student arrived at the campus Sunday morning and discovered all of the fish dead, either poisoned by a liquid herbicide or mutilated.

"They were all dead, either poisoned or their heads crushed, one of the students told KTXL News in Sacramento.

Police are investigating the crime as a "felonious killing, torturing, and/or mutilation of an animal or fish." The school's agricultural department is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit.