[StBernard] Bald eagle killed in St. Bernard Parish, $7, 500 reward for information

[Westley Annis]

Bald eagle killed in St. Bernard Parish, $7,500 reward for information

Print Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune By Benjamin
Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune 
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on April 11, 2014 at 11:45 AM, updated April 11, 2014 at 3:15 PM

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife
and Fisheries are investigating the killing of a bald eagle near Verret in
St Bernard Parish. The eagle was discovered last Friday (April 4) near the
fire station on 3901 Bayou Road.

A reward of up to $7,500 is being offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and The Humane Society for information that leads to the arrest and
conviction of the responsible individuals.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent said the eagle had been shot.

Bald eagles are protected by federal wildlife statutes, the Bald and Golden
Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Violations of the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act carry a maximum criminal sentence of up to $15,000
and six months in federal prison. Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
violations carry a maximum criminal sentence of up to $5,000 and one year in
federal prison for a first offense.

After being a common sight in southern Louisiana in the early 1900s, bald
eagles were placed on the endangered species list by the 1970s. In 1972,
only six or seven nesting territories remained in south Louisiana, according
to federal and state literature. As the species rebuilt, though, it was
downgraded to the threatened species list in 1985, when the number of nests
had increased to 18. 

Today, the bald eagles are no longer on the threatened species list and at
least 150 active bald eagle nests exist in Louisiana, mostly west of the
Mississippi River, and with many of those nests in Terrebonne Parish. But,
the species still is protected under state and federal laws. Today,
possession of a bald eagle alive or dead -- even possession of its feathers
-- is crime.

Most of the bald eagles lay their eggs in late November and then nest in
south Louisiana during the winter. Federal and state officials typically
recommend about a 1,500-foot radius around each nest to protect them from
human activities between October 15 and May 15. 

After most of the young have left their nests, most of the eagles will leave
Louisiana and likely spend summer in northern states. In October, the bald
eagles typically return to Louisiana.

Anyone with information on the recent killing should call the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Operation Game Thief at 1.800.442.2511,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agents Ben Bryant at 985.514.7115 or
Stephen Clark at 504.214.2398.