B.C. river goes green....., REALLY green!

A prank is to blame for a river near Victoria, B.C. that turned neon green yesterday.

Pranksters are likely responsible for dying a British Columbia river fluorescent green, government officials said. Government officials are investigating and treating it as vandalism.

Jane London was horrified when she spotted strange neon green water while walking along the Goldstream River in Victoria with her five-year-old son Wednesday afternoon.

"It was shocking," said London on Thursday from her Victoria home.

Government officials are investigating, and believe water-tracing dye used to test sanitary water systems is the cause, said Suntanu Dalal, spokesman for the B.C. Ministry of Environment.

In nearby Langford, a fountain turned a similar colour green Wednesday.

Two samples are being reviewed Thursday.

Environment ministry officials are taking the matter seriously, calling the incidents "acts of vandalism."

London said she is "pretty disappointed" over the neon water at the provincial park she regularly walks in.

"There is so much wildlife around there. You just hope it doesn't harm anything," she said.

Eagles and other wildlife frequent the area and salmon spawn at the site.

The colour faded after about an hour.

By Kristy Brownlee, QMI Agency