Texas man sentenced to prison for killing bald eagle

Santos Guerrero, a 43-year-old resident of Porter, Texas, has been sentenced to 14 days in federal prison and ordered to pay a $5,000 fine for shooting and killing a bald eagle. Guerrero pleaded guilty to the charges following an incident in October 2024.

According to federal prosecutors, Guerrero shot the eagle in his backyard and subsequently attempted to hide the wounded bird under a tarp in his garage. Investigators used surveillance and body camera footage to track the incident, which showed the eagle being shot and falling from a tree. Although the bird was transported to an animal hospital, veterinarians were forced to euthanize it due to severe injuries, including a damaged wing, liver fractures, internal bleeding, and a broken leg.

While bald eagles are no longer classified as an endangered species, they remain protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. This federal law prohibits the unauthorized killing, possession, or transport of bald and golden eagles. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with assistance from Texas Parks and Wildlife.