Bald Eagle - Shot - Clings To Life
How shocking!!! Someone shot a Bald Eagle! Why shoot a Bald Eagle, our national bird? It is not a bird that people eat.
Photo courtesy of The Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
The eagle was shot in the right leg. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been taking care of the eagle since Friday. It was found Thursday evening in Mediterra in North Naples. The care-takers have been nursing the eagle and trying to rehydrate it. Originally the eagle was taken to a local emergency pet veterinarian where via x-rays the bullet was found.
The staff at the Conservancy hopes to nurse the eagle back to health and perform surgery to save its life.
"If the leg doesn’t heal, the eagle would have to be euthanized because federal rules do not allow the Conservancy to release or keep one-legged birds," Barbara Wilson, Conservancy marketing director said.
Shooting a bald eagle is a violation of both state and federal laws. Federally, it is a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
"A first violation of the eagle act is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $100,000 fine," Ed Lewis, special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Subsequent violations are felonies punishable by up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The eagle currently weighs 4 pounds, about half the weight of a healthy eagle, raising concerns about the bird’s health, a Conservancy staff member stated.
“We are not sure what the outcome will be for the eagle,’’ said another staff member.
Comments
5 Responses to “Bald Eagle - Shot - Clings To Life”
Got something to say?
may be it was an accident …
sad …
Dollywood theme park here in Tennessee has the largest collection of non-releasable eagles in the country. If the leg has to be amputated, perhsps the bird can be shipped to Dollywood.
My god, what kind of person would go around shooting the American symbol of liberty and freedom? It sickens me!
Is there anyway of bringing the bird to Canada, either British Columbia or Alberta.
i Know there is a birds of prey center in or around Brooks Alberta Canada.
i believe we have federal laws protecting animals in captivity.
The eagle had to be put down.