Potential reward for information on shooting of Vermont bald eagle

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A bald eagle was illegally shot and killed near Bridport, Vermont in October. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 in return for any information that would significantly further the investigation.

Members of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department responded to reports of a dead bald eagle near East Street in Bridport on October 15. Analysis of the body found pellets and wounds consistent with shotgun fire and officials confirmed these were the cause of death.

Bald eagles have been removed from the U.S. Endangered Species Act and Vermont's endangered species statutes. However, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act still protect these birds from being hunted.

The maximum fines for killing bald eagles under federal protections are $15,000 and $100,000 respectively. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (844) 397-8477 or through the online tips form.

In Vermont, there are at least 50 pairs of bald eagles, per Margaret Fowle, the conservation program manager at Audubon Vermont. This comes after Vermont's reintroduction program from 2004 to 2006 which released 29 bald eagles in Addison, Vermont.