More than 500 roosters bred for fighting were seized from a Yelm, WA, residence on Thursday. Investigators also found and removed neglected livestock animals from the property. The operation involved collaboration with eight animal control agencies across western Washington.

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office said during a search warrant at an unidentified location in "the Yelm area," hundreds of roosters were seized along with "numerous neglected livestock animals" that were taken into protective care, according to a social media post.

Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states, but has become a growing crime problem in WA. In 2024, Yakima County had to euthanize 60 roosters that were seized from a similar illegal operation near Sunnyside and Granger. Fox Q13 in Seattle even did a feature story on the growing problem.

Deputies say numerous other neglected livestock animals were found on the property and taken into protective care.

Thurston County Sheriff's Office investigators uncovered a large-scale animal cruelty operation on Thursday, finding over 500 roosters raised for cockfighting.T