Posted on 01/11/2017 3:24:27 PM PST by nickcarraway
If you spend any time in Anahuac, you’re bound to see tons of birds.
“We have birders come in from all over the world,” Sheriff Brian Hawthorne, of Chambers County, said.
You might even spot an eagle’s nest, which is a good sign.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, eagles have bounced back from a DDT scare.
In the 1970s, eagles were endangered, and it wasn’t until 2007 that they were taken off that list.
“They’re making a great comeback in our area. To see something like this, something injured that severely, it was extremely sad,” Sharon Schmalz, executive director of the Wildlife Center of Texas, said.
Schmalz saw the bald eagle that was allegedly shot in a pasture in Anahuac and that a game warden delivered to the Wildlife Center on Monday.
It was in such bad shape it had to be humanely euthanized.
“It’s tough with any of the animals that we take care of, but especially a bald eagle, one of our symbols of America. It was really sad,” Schmalz said. A comeback story is as American as the bald eagle itself.
Simply put, shooting eagles is only making their comeback harder.
“They’re increasing, but it still doesn’t take away the importance of each eagle in the recovery of the species,” Tim Cooper, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Center, said.
The Chambers County Sheriff's Office said the homeowners who found the bald eagle are being cooperative.
Officials say if the necropsy -- an autopsy for an animal -- determines the eagle was killed by gunfire, the person responsible could face a Class C misdemeanor locally, but federally, could face prison time and be forced to pay a big restitution.
Rewards are being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the shooter. Chambers County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward, and another $1,000 reward is being offered by Texas Wildlife Crime Stoppers Operation Game Thief.
Anyone with information is asked to call Chambers County Crime Stoppers at 844-860-8477 or Texas Wildlife Crime Stoppers Operation Game Thief at 800-792-4263.
What a shame.
Why is it a federal crime? Seems like the county is perfectly equipped to handle it.
Chopped up by wind turbines is A.O.K. though.
Obama gave the wind generators a 30 year pass to kill as many as needed.
I hope it didn’t already have a nest. It would be tough for the surviving mate to go it alone if there are eggs or young chicks.
How many get minced in windmills.
But that’s OK.
Depending on the reason, I am not too torn up. There isn’t a shortage of these things and they will take calves. I have had lambs carried off by them. You can search youtube and sea the Mongolians using eagles to take down deer and wolves.
I don’t get the reference. I thought this one was shot.
The SW FL nest w/eaglet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gymPFiPE88I
What is wrong with people?!
Even though wind power generates only 3 percent of U.S. electricity, wind turbines kill 573,000 birds each year each year ... Many of the birds killed by wind turbines are endangered and protected species.
Feds allow the rotor blades of wind turbines to butcher 4,200 bald eagles and 40,000 golden eagles per year
They’ll try and get your dogs, too.
Didn’t know I could run that fast, anymore.
only up to 4000 a year.
1. How do you get eagles to count ?
2. How do you get windmills to count ?
Thank Goodness wind turbines don’t discriminate and whack&thump all eagles equally as hard..
What are national symbols all about anyway these days except to be abused. :-?
Is a burning Tesla any worse a thing to view than a burning police vehicle or a smoldering pile of feathers and sinews?
Yikes.
There has to be a better way.
There is no reason to shoot an eagle or other raptor for that matter.
It's just indiscriminate killing that should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if the individual is caught......
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