BRIDGEWATER —A $2,500 reward offered by The Humane Society of the United States is the latest effort to help catch those responsible for the deaths of five baby bluebirds and damage to the wildlife habitat at Hillside School.

The Humane Society reward brings the total cache for information leading to the arrest of the vandal or vandals who struck the Brown Road school in May and June to $3,000 as school officials and the community work to repair the damage.

On June 7, a scientist working at the nationally recognized wildlife habitat noticed someone had plugged two birdhouses with golf balls. All five bluebird chicks inside the birdhouses were dead. Someone also painted graffiti on the school building, ripped out the school's sprinkler system, destroyed rails on a bridge and fences, and knocked down instructional signs at the school, which has been honored for its commitment to the environment.

Crime Stoppers offered a $500 reward in June to help catch the vandals.

There have been no arrests in the case, Bridgewater police Detective Sgt. Gerald Nunery said. Police have been monitoring the property, he said.

According to The Humane Society Web site, there is a connection between animal cruelty and human violence. Studies show a correlation between those who commit animal cruelty and other crimes, from narcotics and firearms violations to battery and sexual assault.

"Those who abuse animals can be dangerous to people," Barbara Dyer, the Humane Society's New Jersey state director, said in a news release about the reward.

Others have offered to help repair the damage to the habitat, which has been estimated at $10,000.

Heartlands Hayride's annual live radio traditional country, blue grass show will benefit the school's habitat program. The traditional Country Western and Bluegrass Show, which will be held at 6 p.m. July 19 at North Branch Reformed Church, 203 Route 28 in Bridgewater, is based on the old traditional shows that come out of the Louisiana Hayride show, where performers like Elvis Presley, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash got their start, said Frank Bruno, who is organizing the event for WDVR 89.7. Tickets are $10.

Bruno decided this year's show should benefit the Hillside School because of the outrage in the community about the vandalism and the birds' death.

"The idea of baby birds getting killed or crushed is so upsetting," said Bruno, who is the Somerset County surrogate.

The Traditional Country Western and Bluegrass Show will feature acts including the Doerfel Family, a family of 12 coming from California to perform live blue grass and country mountain music, Heartlands Hayride band, comedians Chuck and Joe, and many performers of American roots music. The show will be broadcast live on WDVR 89.7.