IDNR investigates shooting of bald eagle in Dubois County

Indianapolis Star

A bald eagle perches in a tree on June 30, 2020, in the historic neighborhood of Brendonwood, in Indianapolis. The eagles nest along the Brendonwood Country Club golf course. IDNR is investigating the shooting and killing of a bald eagle in Dubois County that reportedly took place Saturday, Feb. 25.

Conservation officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources are investigating a report of a bald eagle shot and killed in Dubois County.

The shooting took place Saturday between 2-3:30 p.m. northeast of Jasper in the southern Indiana county, according to Joe Haywood of the DNR.

"I collected that bird, went and took it to a vet's office," Haywood said. "We had x-rays done and by those we were able to tell there some shrapnel inside of it. It had obviously been shot by some type of firearm."

The eagle was found about 50 yards from County Road 300, which Haywood said is a heavily traveled area. He and other investigators now are trying to narrow that timeframe down and asking anyone who may have seen a stopped or slowed vehicle in the area to call the DNR's tip line or District 6 office.

Any information can help, and Haywood said some cases are broken after a tipster overhears someone else talking about the crime.

Tipsters can contact the DNR Law Enforcement District 7 headquarters at 812-789-9538 or 800-TIP-IDNR (800-847-4367).

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It's not often bald eagles are found shot and killed, Haywood said. The last one he remembers happened several years ago.

Penalties for anyone found guilty of shooting and killing a bald eagle can vary by case, Haywood said. A misdemeanor offense can carry fines up to $500 and up to a year in prison.

The bald eagle is a federally protected bird, and Haywood said he has been in contact with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agent told Haywood that the last federal conviction for a similar crime saw fines between $3,000-4,000 in restitution.

The investigation is ongoing, and conservation officers are offering up to $500 for any information that leads to the arrest of a suspect.

If Hoosiers happen across injured or orphaned wildlife, Haywood said they can call DNR or a wildlife rehabilitation center for assistance.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk

IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.