Officials are seeking information to aid an investigation into the shooting of a juvenile bald eagle off Vermont Route 100 in the town of Troy, between East Hill Road and Routhier Road, on or about Sept. 5, 2010.
Anyone with information should call the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Operation Game Thief 24-hour hotline at: 1-800-75-ALERT (1-800-752-5378), or report online anytime at http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com and click on the Operation Game Thief link. Callers may remain anonymous.
Vermont State game wardens and special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. The Service is offering a reward of up to $2,500 to the person or people who provide information leading to a conviction under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Local residents discovered the injured bald eagle and notified the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility, is caring for the eagle. Examination of the eagle revealed it had been shot with a shotgun and sustained a fractured wing and other injuries. Rehabilitators are hopeful that the wing will heal well enough for the eagle to fly again and eventually be released into the wild.
In addition to the Eagle Act, state laws and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act protect bald eagles. Until 2007, bald eagles were also protected under the Endangered Species Act.
