Bald eagle dies of gunshot wound in Indiana, reward offered
(Indiana DNR Law Enforcement)
A bullet struck a protected bald eagle in Indiana, leading to the bird’s death, officials said Sunday.
Indiana Conservation Officer Ryan Jahn was investigating the shooting of the bald eagle Saturday in Lawrence County, officials said.
“The eagle was found alive south of the White River near Dixie Road, but later succumbed to the gunshot wound,” Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
A reward was being offered for information that leads to an arrest, according to the agency.
The killing of a bald eagle is a violation of the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Violators face up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $100,000.
As of 2008, bald eagles are no longer considered endangered in Indiana.
Researchers still track data on bald eagles to monitor the health of the population and learn more about their behavioral patterns.