Washington Man Charged for Killing Bald Eagle

A 66‑year‑old man from Brush Prairie, Washington, is accused of shooting a bald eagle with a shotgun on February 5. Officers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife found the dead bird with shotgun pellets in its head, and the suspect was identified after witnesses reported hearing a gunshot.

Federal prosecutors have filed two misdemeanor charges: one for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and another for unlawfully killing a migratory bird. If convicted, the man faces up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 for the eagle violation, and up to six months in prison with a $5,000 fine for the migratory‑bird violation. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 8.