Reward offered in shooting of eagle in Poweshiek County

Conservation officials in Poweshiek County are hoping a reward will lead to some clues in the death of a bald eagle found last month near Brooklyn. Conservation officer Mike Ryan says the bird was noticed in a tree by a passerby, but they don’t know much about what happened. He says he took it out of the tree and determined it had been shot. Ryan says the killing of America’s symbol breaks the law at several levels. He says it’s against state law to kill a bald eagle, and it’s also federally protected under the endanger species act and the migratory bird treaty act. He says the person who killed the bird could face up to a 100-thousand dollar fine and one year in jail under the federal statute. Ryan says they hope a reward will prompt someone to come forward with information on who killed the bird. He says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the local board and the Audubon Society have pooled money for a reward up to five-thousand dollars, and he says that reward fund might increase. Ryan says anyone with information can call him at 641-660-0741.