A Bald Eagle that was shot and then left for dead this past weekend may never fly again, according to reports.
The bird was found suffering from a gunshot wound in a pool of water along state highway 10 in Miami, Oklahoma, as per the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Despite officers have difficulty in getting to the eagle as a result of the water, it was eventually rescued after Kendel Robbins, fisheries technician, waded out to get it.
The eagle was quickly rushed to nearby Tulsa Zoo, where it was treated by veterinarians who confirmed the injury was caused by a gunshot.
As per reports, the bird has a “good chance of survival”, though it’s apparently unlikely this magnificent creature will ever fly again.
Oklahoma Game Wardens Facebook page issued a post urging anyone with information to come forward and help solve the crime.
If you know anything, please contact Oklahoma Game Warden Jason Adair on (918)533-2679 or the Operation Game Thief Hotline on 1-800-522-4572.
It galls me to think someone would be capable of purposefully shooting a bird like this and then leaving it to die alone. What have we come to as a species when we can commit such acts?
The Bald Eagle is no longer considered an endangered species thanks to conservation efforts, but they are protected by a number of state and federal laws.
Individuals who violate such laws can be fined up to $5,000 or face imprisonment for one year. Felony convictions, meanwhile, carry a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to two years behind bars.
I sincerely hope they catch the person responsible for this, just as I hope this Bald Eagle makes as full a recovery as possible.
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