Federal Officials Offer Reward for Capture of Suspect Who Shot a Bald Eagle

Officials working for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency have offered a reward to anyone who can provide information on the person or people involved in the shooting of a bald eagle in November of last year, Local 8 Now reported.

A bounty of $10,000 was put up to help both state and federal officials speed up their investigation process.

The injured bald eagle was rescued last year in the Cherokee National Forest by a member of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). The bird was found on the ground with a wound from a gunshot on its wing.

Wildlife officers believe the person responsible for the bird's injury intentionally wanted to take it down.

"It was most likely flying overhead when they shot at it," Joe Pike of the TWRA said in a statement. "It was not something that was an unintentional thing. Somebody intended to shoot this bird."

In response to the incident, various agencies launched an investigation on the matter since shooting, harming or killing a bald eagle is considered as a federal crime, according to the Associated Press.

Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, violators can be imprisoned for up to one year and face a fine of $100,000.

Through the $10,000 reward, which includes $5,000 from the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust and the Humane Society of the United States, wildlife officials are hoping members of the public will get involved and help in the investigations.

According to Pike, aside from conservation-related reasons, officials are taking the matter seriously since the bald eagle is considered as the country's national symbol.

"We still believe in the principles of our founding fathers and God and country," he said. "We're a pretty patriotic bunch. Apparently now, we have someone who is targeting and trying to kill our national symbol and that's un-American and unacceptable to us."

A representative from the American Eagle Foundation noted the adult bald eagle is in the process of recovering from its injury and is learning how to fly again.