When game wardens spoke with the landowner, he told them he had shot a hawk that had been harassing his chickens.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A bald eagle had to be euthanized after it was shot by a landowner in Montgomery County in October, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
TPWD said Texas game wardens had gotten a tip on Oct. 11 that an eagle had been shot. When they spoke with the landowner, he told them he had shot a hawk that had been harassing his chickens. Wardens searched the property and found the eagle hidden underneath a tarp.
The landowner then reportedly admitted to the wardens that he had shot the eagle and said he planned to try to fix its wing.
The eagle was taken to a veterinary hospital for evaluation and surgery to repair the wing and heal the gunshot wound. Ultimately, the eagle had to be put down, TPWD said.
“While we never like to see an incident like this occur, we appreciate the caller’s prompt actions in reporting the violations so Texas Game Wardens could investigate and try to give the eagle its best chance at survival,” said TPWD Law Enforcement Director Col. Ronald VanderRoest.
The case has been turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which will further investigate and determine what, if any, charges will be filed.
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