Free State High School students on their way to class this morning passed roosters painted green and chained to trees in their parking lot.

The two roosters were removed from campus this morning by Animal Control officers, Lawrence School District Communications Director Julie Boyle said in an e-mail.

The prank comes on the day of the annual Lawrence High-Free State basketball game, which starts with the girl’s game at 6 p.m., with the boy’s game following about 7:30.

Lawrence High School principal Steve Nilhas said his school was aware of the situation, but didn’t know a lot about what happened.

“We don’t condone people vandalizing property. We don’t condone cruelty to animals,” he said “but we continue to investigate.”

Nilhas said the School Resource Officers were involved in the investigation, especially because of the implications to cruelty to animals laws.

“There are laws that have been violated,” Nilhas said.

Free State assistant principal Mike Hill declined to comment on the incident.