Pasted below is a press release from the Iowa DNR regarding three bald eagles found dead near Bedford in southwest Iowa.

Forwarded by Jane Clark

Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Conservation and Recreation Division

THREE DEAD EAGLES DISCOVERED NEAR BEDFORD

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrea Bevington at (712) 520-0508

BEDFORD – Three bald eagles were discovered dead within a 5- to
10-mile radius of Bedford in Taylor County in southwest Iowa. 

The first eagle was an adult that had been shot through the wing and
chest.  It was discovered March 17, south of Lake of Three Fires State
Park in a ditch off of county road N44.

Another bird, found in the park by a shed (deer antler) hunter was
reported to the park ranger. 

“This bird was badly decomposed,” said DNR Conservation Officer
Andrea Bevington, “mostly bones and feathers.  That’s why we ask
people who find things like this to report them to a law enforcement
official right away.”

A third, immature, bird was found in a ditch west of the park on March
20. 

“The immature bird was x-rayed,” said Bevington, “and we could
not find any bullets or shot.  We will be sending it to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service offices in Minnesota for a necropsy.”

“Although we can’t say for certain what the cause of death is for
two of the three eagles, the discoveries lead to suspicion,” said
Bevington.

Bald eagles are a protected species, listed by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service as “threatened” in the lower 48 states.

Federal charges for killing one eagle could amount to a $100,000 fine
and up to one year in prison. If the same person is convicted of killing
two or more eagles, they could face felony charges of up to two years in
prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has offered a $2,500 reward to
information leading to an arrest and Iowa’s Turn In Poachers
organization has offered $1,000.  Information can be reported 24 hours a
day, anonymously through the Turn In Poachers hotline at 1-800-532-2020.


For more information, contact DNR Conservation Officer Andrea Bevington
at 712-520-0508.