Koi can sell for $50 to $1,500 each, making them a tempting target for theft. With 85 koi stolen, the potential value was significant—even though the exact total was hard to determine.
🕒 2. The Theft Occurred at Night
The incident happened on November 21, when someone stole the koi from the pond outside the Oak House restaurant on Yucaipa Boulevard. Outdoor ponds are often accessible and unmonitored at night, which can make them vulnerable.
👤 3. Two People Were Involved
Surveillance video showed two individuals participating in the theft. Only one—David Smith—was arrested and charged. The second person has not been identified or arrested as of the article’s publication.
🚓 4. Arrest and Charges
Smith was arrested shortly after the theft. Initially charged with felony fish theft, the charge was reduced to misdemeanor grand theft because authorities couldn’t confirm whether the stolen koi exceeded the $950 felony threshold.
Fish and Plants Pond with Faux Log Fish Cave
🧍 5. Recovered Fish Found With a Homeless Man
Only five koi were recovered. They were found in the possession of a homeless man who said he received them from the thief. The fish were returned to the restaurant’s pond, though one later died.
🐠 6. Restaurant Had to Restock
The restaurant eventually restocked the pond using auction purchases and donations, showing how disruptive the theft was to their business and community presence
Most Lakes and Ponds are filled with Koi, different Species of Fish and other Wildlife
Lakes and ponds often look peaceful on the surface, but beneath that calm water is an entire community of life interacting in ways that keep the ecosystem balanced.
🌿 What Actually Lives in Lakes and Ponds
Most natural lakes and ponds contain:
Native fish species like bass, perches, trout, walleyes, carps and koi
Amphibians such as frogs, toads, and tortoises
Invertebrates like dragonfly larvae, snails, prawns, and water beetles
Aquatic plants that provide oxygen and shelter
Birds and mammals that rely on the water for food or habitat
🐟 What About Koi?
Koi are not naturally found in most lakes and ponds. They’re ornamental carp typically kept in:
Backyard water gardens
Decorative ponds
Controlled environments where water quality is monitored
If koi are released into natural lakes or ponds, they can actually become invasive, stirring up sediment, uprooting plants, and disrupting native species.
🌎 The Big Picture
Every pond or lake is its own little world. Some are carefully curated (like garden ponds with koi), while natural ones are shaped by climate, geography, and the species that evolved there.
California’s population has seen a significant increase in 2024, nearly returning to pre-pandemic levels. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state’s population grew by approximately 233,000 residents this year, bringing it close to the record-high population levels reached before the pandemic. This growth was primarily driven by rising net international migration.
Despite this increase, California’s population growth rate of about 0.59% was slower compared to the national average and other large states like Florida and Texas. The state’s population on July 1, 2024, was 39,431,000, just 125,000 short of the 2020 high points.
The population growth in California reflects a broader trend of increasing population across the United States, with the nation’s population surpassing 340 million. This marks the fastest annual population growth the nation has seen since 2001.
After consistent population growth through the 2010’s, California’s population peaked at 39,556,000, according to the 2020 decennial census, before losing nearly 1% of its population by July 1, 2021, during pandemic restrictions.
Between 2020 and 2022, the California exodus has had significant impacts on the state. In 2021 the state lost one congressional representative, going from 53 to 52 seats in the House of Representatives, and the state had one fewer electoral college vote in 2024 than in 2020. Critics of the state’s leadership point to crime rates, high taxes, and high property costs as reasons for residents fleeing to other less regulated states, like Texas and Florida.
For Jeff Bellisario, executive director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, there’s two ways to look at the new data. “There’s the optimistic look that in the past year, we have seen the population increase… bigger increases than we have in a decade, so I do think there is some truth to the narrative of folks coming back to California,” he said.
But, on the other hand, California is still far behind the population gains made in state like Florida and Texas over the past half decade. “We are still trying to claw back to where we were pre-pandemic,” Bellisario said. “It’s going to take us a few more years to get to solid population growth numbers.”
California had the third most new residents, with the population growing by about 0.59%. Florida and Texas saw newer residents and top the list of states with the largest increases by raw numbers.
The District of Columbia had the largest percent increase, with 2.2% more residents in 2024. Following Florida and Texas, Utah and South Carolina round out the list of places with the 5 largest percent increases in their population, all with at least 1.7% more residents than 2023.
Overall, the population of the whole country grew by about 0.9%, slightly outpacing California’s growth.
Between the decennial census population counts, the agency releases estimates for July 1 of each year, using natural population change, like births and deaths, and then factoring in migration to calculate the estimates. And each year the estimates for previous years in that decade are revised based on new information.
According to the data on each component of change considered in the calculations, for the first time this year since 2020 California’s net migration returned to the positive, spurred by slight decreases in the number of residents the state loses to other states each year, and a continued increase in net international migration.
This new census data affirms data released earlier this year from the California Department of Finance, which also showed the California exodus reversing. Data from the state’s demographics professionals estimated more residents on Jan. 1, 2024, than the previous year, the first year of gains since before the pandemic.
With this year’s update, the Census is catching up to what the state data already hinted at. Last year’s Census update showed that 2023 was another year with slight population decreases in California, but this year’s update revised the 2023 population, showing a slight increase from 2022 to 2023, making 2024 the second year of population growth for the state.
Other US States which have seen a rise in population and how it’s affecting the consumer markets, Healthcare, Climate Change, Transportation, Median Income
Increased Demand: Population growth leads to higher demand for goods and services, boosting local economies. Retail, housing, and entertainment sectors often see substantial growth.
Diverse Preferences: With more people moving in, consumer preferences become more diverse, leading to a wider variety of products and services.
Healthcare
Strain on Services: Rapid population growth can strain healthcare systems, leading to longer wait times and increased demand for medical professionals3.
Expansion of Facilities: To meet the growing demand, there is often an expansion of healthcare facilities and services, including hospitals, clinics, and specialized care centers.
Economic Growth: Population growth can drive economic growth, leading to higher median incomes8.
Income Disparities: However, rapid growth can also exacerbate income disparities, with some areas benefiting more than others. Here are major trends in US income and wealth inequalities.
These impacts highlight the complexities and opportunities associated with population growth in various states.
PLACES AND THINGS 
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