Bald eagle shot, investigation begins

COQUILLE, Ore. – An American bald eagle was found wounded by a gunshot at LaVerne County Park, fish and wildlife officials said.

The bird was near the north fork of the Coquille River, about 14 miles northeast of Coquille, said Bill Kinyoun, an assistant district wildlife biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife department.

The eagle’s left wing was damaged. After it was captured Wednesday, it was taken to Myrtle Veterinary Hospital in Myrtle Point where it was to undergo surgery.

There was the possibility that the female eagle would not fly again, said Dr. Joseph Snyder.

“If she can’t be released, there is a place for her in a breeding program, zoo or university teaching environment,” Snyder said. “We would hope we can make a place for her in the world.”

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agent Jim Stinebaugh was sent from Portland to investigate the shooting, which violates federal law. He said the penalty for shooting a bald eagle is a year in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Bald eagles are protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

“Whoever did this has nothing to do with hunting,” Kinyoun said. “It’s a criminal that would do something like this, and they should be treated as such.”

ODFW spokeswoman Meghan Collins said that in 2005 there were 456 bald eagles in the state and 68 new nests.