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A suspected Pennsylvania poacher has surrendered to authorities after reportedly shooting a protected bald eagle, angering community members who adored their local pair of raptors.
However, the name of the suspect has not been publicly released and concerned residents say they are not even sure if he or she has been charged.
Police in Mount Pleasant Township, about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, have released a surveillance image showing a white SUV near where neighbors found the killed bird of prey at the Cherry Valley Dam.
The eagle was one of two adults in the neighborhood, adored by local residents, who told Fox News Digital that the couple owned two eagles shortly before the murder.
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An adult bald eagle from Mount Pleasant Township in Pennsylvania. Inset: A poacher killed the bird of prey with a single shot in May and left it dead in a field. (Shannon Kuzio, Pennsylvania Game Commissioner)
“Everyone in the community has binoculars on the windowsill in their kitchen, and we’re all very protective of all of our wildlife in our lake,” said Linda Carnevali, a concerned resident of the Cherry Valley Lakeview Estates.
The eagle pair had been in the area for nearly two decades, she said, almost always together, except when protecting their talons or newly hatched eagles, when one always remained on the nest.
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Mount Pleasant police released this image of a suspicious vehicle, which they say led to tips and eventually a suspect confessing to killing the bald eagle. (Mount Pleasant Township Police Station)
“So if you only saw one, you always knew there were babies around,” Carnevali said.
And they just hatched two, according to community members.
Within days of the poaching, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said in a statement that tips led investigators to the suspect, who “admitted all aspects of the crime.”
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Two adult bald eagles in their nest in Mount Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania. One was killed by a poacher in May shortly after hatching two eagles. (Shannon Kuzio)
Authorities have not released a name and a spokesperson for the Game Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“We are devastated that this would happen and we don’t understand why anyone would do this,” Carnevali told Fox News Digital. “And… we don’t understand why this is so mysterious.”
An adult bald eagle from Mount Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania. Authorities say one of two adult raptors in the community was killed by a single gunshot wound. A suspect later turned himself in and confessed to the crime, police said. (Shannon Kuzio)
Bald eagle populations are recovering across the country — decades after they were placed on the endangered species list, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Threats to the species include habitat destruction, poaching and the contamination of their food supply with chemicals and pesticides, federal officials say.
Local residents adored their bald eagle neighbours, keeping an eye out and taking numerous photos that were shared on the community’s Facebook group. However, one of two adult bald eagles in the area was shot dead by a poacher in May, according to Mount Pleasant police. (Shannon Kuzio)
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Authorities say bird watchers should stay at least 100 yards away from bald eagles.
Michael Ruiz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @mikerreports
