Bald Eagle Repeatedly Shot, Dies Near Montana-Idaho Border

Poaching incidents involving game animals are disgusting enough. And there were a lot of them in Montana in 2024.

If nothing else, you hope most of those animals died quickly and did not suffer for extended periods of time. But this is nothing more than a senseless act of cruelty that saw an iconic American symbol struggle for its life until it was determined that it could not struggle any longer.

We received word from the Idaho Fish and Game Department that they had responded to a report of a bald eagle that had been shot near Sandpoint in the Idaho Panhandle Region. The bird was subsequently euthanized a short time later.

The eagle was believed to have been shot in late December near an island on Lake Pend Oreille. The eagle was recovered alive. But shortly after recovery and medical examination, the eagle was euthanized due to its injuries.

And those injuries? Steel BBs were found throughout the eagle’s body after x-rays.

While difficult to view on an x-ray image, the white dots indicate at least 10 BBs in the eagles body. Idaho Fish and Game is requesting the public to report any information about the incident.

Bald eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Anyone who might have seen or heard something related to the incident is encouraged to contact Conservation Officer Will Fuller at (208) 954-3302 or call the Citizen Against Poaching Hotline, at 800-632-5999. Information can also be reported online here.

A monetary reward will be requested for individuals who provide credible, detailed information which significantly helps to identify the person or persons involved that leads to any relevant charges.