Poachers slaughter scores of eagles in B.C.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The recent slaughter of at least 40 eagles in British Columbia has drawn attention to what appears to be a growing market for feathers and talons of the majestic birds.

Like ivory tusks, bear gall bladders and other prized animal parts, eagle feathers can fetch as much as $500 from unscrupulous buyers, experts say.

In the past month, 40 eagle carcasses have been discovered on an Indian reserve in North Vancouver. Rewards totaling $10,000 have been offered for information that convicts the culprits.

“Interpol estimates that international wildlife trafficking involves amounts of up to $10 billion U.S. annually and that drugs, guns and endangered species are the three most illegally traded commodities in the world,” said Michael O’Sullivan, executive director of the Toronto-based Humane Society of Canada. “Because of the vast distances and the sparse population throughout B.C. and other parts of Canada, there is a lot more wildlife trafficking than most people realize.”

While bald eagles are listed as endangered in the United States’ Lower 48 states, the British Columbia population has been estimated at about 20,000 and is not considered threatened. Both countries have laws allowing certain members of federally recognized tribes to obtain eagle feathers and other parts for religious purposes.

The B.C. Wildlife Act calls for fines as high as $50,000 for harming an eagle. Illegally exploiting them brings even stiffer fines and possible prison terms under federal law.

Poachers apparently believe the profits are worth the risk.

“A feather from a wing of an eagle can bring anywhere from $50 to $500,” Bresser said, while a tail or flight feather can fetch $10 to $50.

On the powwow circuit, a dancer’s outfit complete with ornate bustle and headdress can be worth as much as $40,000, he said.

Chief Mike Retasket of the Bonaparte band in Cache Creek has been dancing on the powwow circuit for about 20 years and now has an outfit replete with 96 eagle feathers.

Not one of them was bought, he said.

“I’ve never seen a black market or been offered anything like that, and I’ve been on this (powwow) trail for about 20 years,” he said.

Plains Indians were the original powwow dancers. The practice has now expanded across North America and includes performances by non-natives in places such as Germany, Retasket said.

The increasing popularity of powwow dancing — with some festivals offering cash prizes — means a bigger demand for eagle feathers, Retasket said.

He said a powwow in California next fall is offering $1.5 million in prizes. The 10 categories include men’s traditional, young men’s traditional and women’s traditional.

It is contrary to aboriginal beliefs for legitimate powwow dancers to buy feathers.

“They need to be passed down and there is a process for that,” Retasket said.

He said his feathers were passed down to him after other Indians saw his interest in dancing.

“I was out there dancing with my street shoes and pants and dress shirt and I danced like that for nine years before I got my first feather.”