Young bald eagle shot and killed on Eastern Shore

Young bald eagle shot and killed on Eastern Shore

WE THINK OF OUR NATIONSSYMBOL, WE THINK OF THOSEIMPRESSIVE BALD EAGLES WITHTHAT BRILLIANT WHITE TAIL ANDCROWN.

IT TAKES THEM 4 TO 5YEARS TO GET THAT LOOK.

ON THEEASTERN SHORE... ONE DIDN'TGET THE CHANCE.

IT WAS FOUNDSHOT AND KILLED.

WMAR 2 NEWSDON HARRISON EXPLAINS WHATHAPPENED.Sot; I am a volunteer for OwlMoon Rapture... Track:...That's Nancy McDonald, she'sa veteran and that makes ournation's symbol, the baldeagle, so much more specialtoo her.

Sot: Every eagle thatwe can save is so preciousbecause at one point in timethey were almost extinct...Track: The bald eagle is offthe endangered list, but it'snot out of harm's way.

About aweek ago McDonald was calledto save a juvenile bald eaglefound on the ground on theeastern shore.

A home ownerfound the eagle on hisproperty and kept an eye onit.

Thinking it may have justbeen slightly injured theyleft it alone and even feed itsome fish.

After almost aweek, they called for help andfound out the eagle hadactually been shot.

It laterdied.

Juvenile bald eaglesdon't get their classic whitehead and tail until about 4years old so, the one theoryis it could have been mistakenfor a vulture perhaps, thatstill would not excuse theshooting.

Sot: So vulturesalso are federal protected andthey also should not beharassed, disturbed, injuredor shot.

Track: Bald Eaglesare in Maryland year round.The farm fields, open spacesand tall trees make it forgreat home.

Oh and there's oother little thing.... Sot:...we have the Chesapeake Bayhere which is perfect forfishing.

Stand up: Most of uslove to see these majesticbald eagles flying in our areaand there are things all of uscan do to secure theirsurvival.

Sot: People put ourrat Poisson for example andsmall fury creatures eat that,they lay on the ground, theydie and then a bald eaglecomes by and scarfs up thatrat, eats it and then becomesill from the rodenticide.Track: ... a mechanical trapwithout poison would bebetter.

Be mindful of your oldfishing line.

The eagles gettangled in them that can leadto death.

Of course there'sthe oldest trick in the bookto get rid of rodents.

Sot: Ifyou have a cat that you canlet indoors and out, cats aregreat at rodent control.Track: Keeping bald eaglessafe is good for all of us.Sot: but everyone we save,that's a win.

On the eastershore, DWILDLIFE GOVERNING AGENCIESTAKE THE SHOOTING OF PROTECTBIRDS SERIOUSLY... ESPECIALLYBALD EAGLES.

THE U.S.FISH ANDWILDLIFE SERVICE IS OFFERING A25- HUNDRED DOLLAR REWARD FOINFORMATION ON THIS CASE.LET'S CH