Bald Eagles Shot; Reward Offered

Tuesday, February 27th 2007, 3:43 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for shooting and killing two bald eagles in eastern Oklahoma.

The carcass of a young bald eagle was recovered Feb. 5 at Sumners Ferry boat ramp on the Arkansas River, near Gore, the agency said in a statement. About 65 miles away, an adult bald eagle carcass was found Jan. 27 in Adair County near Westville. Investigators believe the two shootings are unrelated.

Both carcasses are being sent to the service's forensics laboratory for further investigation, Service Special Agent Jerry Monroe said Tuesday.

"We believe somebody in the areas where the bald eagles were killed has additional information that will help finalize this investigation," Monroe said.

Bald eagles are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. They also are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, both of which make killing a bald eagle a federal crime.

Anyone with information about the bald eagle killings in Oklahoma should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement office in Edmond at 715-0617.