Bald eagles found shot, mutilated

[Apoptosis]

Some people are just sick... I pray to God that I never see anyone shoot a bald eagle.

A $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.

Source: KSDK

[bubba]

mutilating any animal is wrong, this is just compounded by the fact its the national bird and a protected one at that.

[vicaphit]

That is terrible! I can't stand hearing about people doing that to animals because they can't defend themselves. It is good to know that bald eagles are increasing in numbers now though. We get them all the way out here in Ohio sometimes, though not often enough.

[InspectahACE]

Damn i didn't hear about that...animal cruelty is ..i dont have a word strong enough for it..its lame..shows cowardice..anyone who abuses,mutilates, or anything bad to an animal should be systematically shot in the forehead..not to mention whatever they did to the animal should be done to them as well

[XstollieX]

Damn i didn't hear about that...animal cruelty is ..i dont have a word strong enough for it..its lame..shows cowardice..

I totally agree with that

anyone who abuses,mutilates, or anything bad to an animal should be systematically shot in the forehead..not to mention whatever they did to the animal should be done to them as well

I disagree with this part. That would be to quick

[InspectahACE]

well i wont go too much into detail then...just do what they did to the animal ..you decap a bald eagle..you get decapped back(cept the suspect will be alive during it)..now you've done got my thoughts up lol.. im not fond of animal cruelty and chances are if i ever found someone doing it i might end up on the news for somethin i did

[XstollieX]

I think that would make two of us on the news for that!

[vbironchef]

We all know that it's not right! Don't we? What kind of nut is killing our national bird! I'm trying to come up with something else to say but I'm speechless.

[Ultima9999]

Some people are just sick, harming animal is wrong...but to be sick enough to do that, and target an endangered species...its beyond cruel.

[slugbug]

Let the punishment fit the crime. That being said I really hope they find out who committed these cowardly acts.