Washington man charged with killing bald eagle

bald eagle Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act wildlife crime Clark County shotgun pellets

Benjamin G. Allen, a 66-year-old resident of Brush Prairie, Washington, has been charged with federal crimes following the death of a bald eagle in Clark County. The investigation began on February 5, 2026, after witnesses reported hearing a loud noise, such as a gunshot or firecracker, near a property where Allen kept chickens.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife officers discovered the eagle with blood around its head. Subsequent veterinary examinations revealed that two shotgun pellets were lodged in the bird's brain, causing its death.

Allen faces a class A misdemeanor for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which carries a potential penalty of up to one year in prison and a $500,000 fine. He also faces a class B misdemeanor for unlawfully killing a migratory bird. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on September 8.

Entities

Benjamin G. Allen · Brush Prairie · U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington · U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Sources

Washington State Man Accused Of Killing Bald Eagle Found Near His Chickens Faces Federal Charges [www.backyardgardenlover.com]

10 days ago

Brush Prairie man charged with killing bald eagle [www.clarkcountytoday.com]

8 days ago