Reward offered for info on bald eagle shooting

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will offer a reward for any information leading to the apprehension of the person responsible for the shooting death of a bald eagle along the Palouse River just downstream from Colfax.

The dead eagle was reported by two hikers Feb. 20 when they saw the downed bird while hiking along the Colfax Trail.

Richard Gamba, an agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said they had received several calls from people who wanted to donate to a reward fund. At present, the amount of the reward has not been determined.

Gamba, whose agency is heading the investigation, said they have not received any leads on the eagle shooting.

State wildlife agent Doug King recovered the dead eagle from an island in the river. King said he had received two calls about the downed eagle because it could easily be seen from the Colfax Trail.

The eagle had a bullet wound that went through a wing and its body. It was an adult eagle that King estimated weighed between seven and eight pounds.

Agents have been unable to make a positive identification of the bullet which was removed from the eagle.

Shooting an eagle violates federal law so the case was turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. State agents are assisting.

Bald eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Bald eagles in Washington were protected by the federal Endangered Species Act beginning in 1978.

From only 104 breeding bald eagle pairs in 1980, the state’s population has increased dramatically in part due to the protection of breeding habitat. By 2005, an estimated 840 occupied eagle territories were documented throughout the state. In July 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the federal Endangered Species list.

Now there are indications that the bald eagle population may still be increasing in the northeastern part of the state and along some rivers in western Washington.

Residents who have any information about the eagle shooting are urged to call Gama’s office, 509-928-6050.