Feds Post Rewards for Chesapeake Eagle Death Info

Ten Thousand Dollar Reward for 13 Eagles Found Dead on Eastern Shore, Maryland

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Maryland Natural Resources Police are asking the public for information about thirteen bald eagles found dead in Federalsburg, Maryland.  On Saturday, February 20, 2016, a local citizen reported several dead eagles in a field near the intersection of Laurel Grove Road and Richardson Road. Investigators responded to the scene and discovered a total of thirteen dead eagles in the area.

Although bald eagles are no longer listed under the Endangered Species Act, they are still federally protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Maximum fines under these acts are $100,000 and $15,000 respectively, with possible imprisonment up to one year.

The Service and wildlife conservation organizations are offering rewards for information leading to a conviction. The Service is contributing up to $2,500 and The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust are offering an additional reward of up to $5,000.

The HSUS and the Trust work with state and federal wildlife agencies to offer rewards of $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspected wildlife offenders. The Phoenix Wildlife Center, Inc., a wildlife rehabilitation center for raptors, songbirds and small mammals in Northern Baltimore County is also offering $2,500.

Anyone with information should call Special Agent John LaCorte with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement in Cambridge, Maryland, at 410-228-2476, or the Maryland Natural Resources Police Hotline at 800-628-9944.

To find 13 dead eagles in a small area was very suspicious to start with, but if the Fed are offering money, they must have found some evidence of  foul fowl play.