Maryland Natural Resources Police is seeking information about the killing of two bald eagles in Montgomery County over the past week.
An eagle was shot with a rifle at about 3 p.m. on Christmas Day in a field that adjoins Georgia Avenue and Bordley Road in Brookville. The bird was feeding on a deer carcass at the time of the incident.
On Saturday morning, a wounded mature eagle was found near a residence on Deakins Lane in Darnestown. The bird later died of its injuries. An x-ray showed it had been hit by bird shot.
Investigators believe the shootings are unrelated.
Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to call the Department of Natural Resources Communications Center, 410-260-8888, or they can remain anonymous on the Catch-A-Poacher hotline at 1-800-635-6124, where a reward is possible.
In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from protection under the Endangered Species Act, and Maryland followed suit in 2010. But it is illegal to shoot eagles without a permit from the U.S. Department of the Interior. A conviction carries a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to a one year in prison.
Maryland has more than 500 nesting pairs of bald eagles, at least one pair in every county. Bald eagles are in their active courtship period right now. Eagles along the upper Chesapeake Bay and inland lay eggs in late February or early March that hatch in April.
