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JACKMAN— Federal wildlife officials said Friday they are offering a reward for information leading to a conviction in the killing of a bald eagle in western Maine. The adult eagle was found dead near the Scott Road in Jackman by a hunter, who turned the carcass over to a Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) biologist on November 19, said Special Agent Tom Cloherty of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The eagle appears to have been shot, in violation of state and three federal laws.Maine state law and three federal laws (the Endangered Species Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act) protect the American Bald Eagle. Federal law sets penalties of $15,000 and one year in prison for killing a bald eagle. State and federal wildlife officials are seeking information from the public that may lead to a conviction in the bird’s killing. They are offering a reward of half of any fine collected up to $2,500 for information leading to a conviction. “We’re hoping that a hunter or woodsman who may have witnessed the shooting or know who is responsible for killing this bird will step forward,” said Cloherty. The eagle is being sent to a federal wildlife forensics laboratory in Ashland, Oregon for a complete analysis of its death. “Thousands of Americans have worked for decades to restore the eagle population from the brink of extinction,” Cloherty said. “The deliberate killing of this majestic symbol of our nation is a senseless act.” The Maine Warden Service and the service’s Office of Law Enforcement are investigating the eagle’s death. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Maine Warden Service’s “Operation Game Thief” at 1-800-ALERT-US or the federal game office at 207-469-6842. They can also call the Maine Warden Service in Greenville at 695-3756. Callers will remain anonymous if they so choose. |