Suspect in bald eagle death turns self in
Criminal charges are pending against a man who turned himself in to the Pennsylvania Game Commission in the killing of a bald eagle.
Mount Pleasant Township Police Department posted to their Facebook page Monday that the man had surrendered. Officials have not identified him, and online court records indicate charges have yet to be filed.
According to police, the eagle had been shot and killed Friday afternoon on Waterdam Road in the township. Officials asked the public’s help in locating the owner of a white sport-utility vehicle that was in the area at the time.
“We wanted to thank the community and public for all the sharing of the posts as we believe this gained the attention of the person who did surrender for questioning,” Mount Pleasant police posted to Facebook.
Bald eagles were removed from the Endangered Species Act in 2007, but the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act prohibit killing, selling, or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Mount Pleasant police referred additional questions to the Game Commission, which did not respond to requests for comment prior to Tuesday’s deadline.