The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Maryland Natural Resources Police are offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to a conviction connected to the mysterious death of 13 bald eagles in the state’s Eastern Shore.
After a local man reported the carcasses while he was searching for shed deer antlers Saturday afternoon, authorities have been investigating how they died. It could have been accidental poisoning, according to a Maryland Natural Resrouces Police spokesperson, who says this is the largest single eagle die-off in Maryland in 30 years.
But if the eagles were intentionally killed, whomever is responsible could face maximum fines of $100,000 and $15,000 under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, respectively. A prison sentence of up to one year is also possible.
If you have any information about the deaths, call John LaCorte with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 410-228-2476 or the Maryland Natural Resources POlice Hotline at 800-628-9944.
Greta started as an editorial fellow in January 2016 and joined as a full-time staff member that August. She now works as a web producer and writer. She was previously an intern at Slate and National Geographic and graduated from the University of Missouri’s Journalism School. She lives in Adams Morgan.
