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Reward
Offered for Information About Bald Eagle Shooting in Eastern
Tennessee
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December
13,
2006
Contacts:
Ryan Noel, FWS, 615/736-5532
Scott Hollenbeck, TWRA, 800/831-1174
Tom MacKenzie, FWS, 404/679-7291
The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are investigating
the shooting of a bald eagle that was discovered near the U.S. Forest
Service’s Bubbling Springs Firing Range along
Highway 107, northeast of Del Rio, in Cocke County, Tennessee. The shooting
may have occurred during the week of November 19, 2006 in a different
location. The eagle’s body may have been transported to this location
where it was discovered on November 25, 2006. A reward of up to $3,500.00
is being offered for information which leads to the conviction of the
person who shot the eagle.
Bald eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Protection Act, the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Endangered Species Act, all federal
wildlife statutes. Violations of these statutes carry maximum criminal
penalties of up to $100,000 and/or one year in federal prison.
Anyone with information concerning the shooting of the bald eagle is
asked to call Special Agent Ryan Noel with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Nashville, Tennessee at 615/736-5532
or Lead Wildlife Officer Scott Hollenbeck, Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Agency at 800/831-1174.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible
for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and
their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The
Service manages the 95-million- acre National Wildlife Refuge System,
which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands
and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish
hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices, and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers
the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores
nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American Tribal governments
with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance
program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise
taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife agencies.
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