Bald eagles found shot, mutilated
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:31 pm
Some people are just sick... I pray to God that I never see anyone shoot a bald eagle.
Source: KSDKA $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrests of those responsible for killing two bald eagles in the St. Louis area.
On January 10th, the mutilated carcass of an adult bald eagle was discovered in St. Charles County. The eagle was found on on the shoulder of Route 67 heading into West Alton. The eagle's body was mutilated and authorities believe it was thrown from a vehicle travelling from Illinois into Missouri. The eagle was decapitated and its feet and tail feathers were also removed.
A second dead bald eagle was discovered on January 17th inl Calhoun County, Illinois by an Illinois Conservation Police Officer. The eagle's carcass was found on Degerlia Hollow Road, near the intersection of Illinois Route 100, in Hardin. A forensic examination revealed the eagle had likely been shot from the road sometime between 7:15 - 9:15 a.m. that day. It's unclear if the two killings are related.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking anyone with information about these killings to contact either Special Agent Jason Bak with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Springfield, Illinois at (217) 793-9554 or call the Illinois Department of Natural Resources T.I.P.S Hotline at 1-800-236-7529. Callers may remain anonymous.
Even though bald eagles are no longer listed under the Endangered Species Act, bald eagles are still federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle
Protection Act. Maximum fines under the acts are $15,000 and $100,000 respectively with possible imprisonment up to one year.