A bald eagle was found shot in Indiana on Friday, officials said Saturday.
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is looking for the person who shot the bald eagle and is offering a reward leading to the arrest of the responsible party.
According to a Facebook post from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement, the eagle was found alive in Bedford with a gunshot wound but had died later from the injury.
“The eagle was found alive south of the White River near Dixie Road, but later succumbed to the gunshot wound,” the Facebook post reads.
The post also called for any information that can lead investigators to who may be responsible for shooting the protected bird and noted a reward is being offered.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Indiana Conservation Officers’ Central Dispatch at 812-837-9536 or the anonymous tip line at 1-800-TIPIDNR.
Last month, another bald eagle was found wounded from a gunshot in Missouri. The bird was shot through its wing and was unable to fly.
FOX4 reported that Missouri Department Conservation Agents captured the bird, named it Dorothy Parker, and had it transported to the University of Missouri’s Raptor Rehabilitation Project in Columbia for treatment.
Symbolizing our nation, bald eagles are North American species with a wingspan that could be as long as 8 feet and may weigh 14 pounds. It is one of the most picturesque birds (pdf) in the United States, with its photos appearing on many government emblems and official documents including the president’s flag, the mace of the House of Representatives, and on one-dollar bills.
The bald eagle was considered an endangered species 40 years ago, with only 487 nesting pairs of bald eagles remaining. They were removed from the list of endangered species in 2007, with at least 9,789 nesting pairs were identified in 2006.
Despite its delisting, bald eagles are still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act that was established in 1940 and amended in 1962, according to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. The Act prohibits killing, possessing, selling, transporting, and bartering of the species.
Violators may face a year of imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000. Second-time violators can face up to 2 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for an individual, and a $500,000 fine for an organization.
According to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the latest conviction took place in West Virginia where a man had killed a bald eagle. He was sentenced to serve six days in prison, almost a year of home confinement, 5 years of probation, and was fined $3,301.
