Delaware: Rewards for Bald Eagle poisoning

[Donna]

Rewards are being offered for information on the suspected poisoning of two bald eagles near Lincoln, state officials said today. One bald eagle was dead and another was near death when state wildlife investigators arrived at a farm near Ellendale late last month.
The birds had been poisoned, said Sgt. Gregory Rhodes, with the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.
The surviving bird was taken to TriState Bird Rescue and Research in Milford Crossroads, treated and released Tuesday.
Rhodes said investigators don’t want to give out too many details on this case but in other bird poisoning cases, someone sets out bait tainted with poison as they target a perceived pest on their land. An animal eats the poison-tainted bait, dies and then the eagle eats the contaminated animal.
Rhodes said cases of eagles and other birds of prey falling victim to secondary poisoning are not uncommon.
“That’s why it’s against the law,� he said. “Eagles eat things that are dead.�
Rhodes said officials are asking the public’s help in trying to find out more about what happened.
The birds were discovered Oct. 21 when state investigators were contacted by a citizen, Rhodes said. The birds were found in a field near the intersection of Beaver Dam Road and Sammons Road.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward up to $3,500 and the state Division of Fish and Wildlife is offering $1,000 for information leading to a conviction.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Gregory Rhodes with the Division of Fish and Wildlife at (302) 739-9913 or (302) 542-6102, or Special Agent Daniel Collins with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Dover at (302) 730-9184.

Information also may be provided by calling Delaware Fish and Wildlife Operation Game Theft at (800) 292-3030, or by going to the Operation Game Theft website.

Officials said maximum federal criminal penalties include a $100,000 fine and one year in prison.