Bald eagle illegally shot in Bear Lake County
Bald eagle illegally shot in Bear Lake County.
(Courtesy Photo IDF&G)
BEAR LAKE COUNTY — The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is seeking information regarding the illegal shooting of a bald eagle in the community of Bern in Bear Lake County.
On Nov. 6, Senior Conservation Officer Kolby White with Idaho Fish and Game received a report of a dead bald eagle in the middle of a field in the small community of Bern, approximately 4 miles west of Montpelier.
The investigation revealed that the bird had been shot with a small caliber gun. The bullet had gone through one of its legs and into the abdomen, and it appears that the eagle was able to fly for a short time before succumbing to blood loss.
SCO Kolby White has responded to reports of dead bald eagles before, but usually those calls involve accidental deaths.
“It’s always a tragedy when a bald eagle dies by hitting a powerline or colliding with a vehicle,” says White. “But, this was no accident. Someone purposely shot this symbol of freedom.”
Raptors like hawks, owls, and eagles have both state and federal protections.
If anyone has any information regarding this bald eagle case, please contact Senior Conservation Officer Kolby White in Montpelier at 208-204-3921 or the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Callers may remain anonymous and those with information leading to an arrest are eligible for rewards.
Jennifer Jackson is a Regional Communications Manager for IDF&G.