GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) – Officials with the Colorado Department of Parks & Wildlife are trying to find out who shot and killed a bald eagle earlier this month.
A Weld County resident found the bird’s carcass on his property on May 10. He lives south of Greeley and approximately a mile east of Milton Reservoir.
credit: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Authorities completed a necropsy on the eagle and determined that it was hit with a gunshot in the lower abdomen. They speculate that the injury didn’t cause it to die right away but rather the animal died within 24 to 48 hours.
They said the gunshot broke the eagle’s right tibia, injured its liver and caused internal bleeding.
Officials said they are keeping the eagle carcass and the bullet as evidence.
Bald eagles were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. They remain protected federally under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Colorado Parks & Wildlife officials are urging members of the public who may have information related to the incident to contact their Fort Collins Service Center at (970) 472-4300 or the Operation Game Thief (OGT) hotline at 877-265-6648.
