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Bald Eagle shot in Weld County; CPW investigating

Posted at 12:37 PM, May 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-21 14:37:50-04

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking the public’s help in collecting information related to a bald eagle that was shot and found dead on May 10 in Weld County.

The eagle was found one mile east of Milton Reservoir in central Weld County.

According to CPW, a landowner spotted the bald eagle perched on the ground in his pasture on the evening of May 9th. On the morning of May 10th, the landowner found the eagle dead in the same spot.

CPW said they received the eagle’s carcass and conducted a necropsy at the CPW health lab on May 15th. Their diagnosis revealed the eagle had suffered a gun shot wound across the lower abdomen resulting in a fractured tibia, liver fracture, and pooling blood in the abdomen.

CPW said they do not believe the gunshot was immediately fatal, but internal hemorrhages and severe tissue damage likely caused death with 24 to 48 hours.

Bald eagles have federal protection under the USFWS Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.