Wildlife authorities are asking for the public's help in finding the people responsible for illegally destroying an active bald eagle nest on private land in North Texas.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the eagle nest on West Lamberth Road in Sherman was destroyed in February 2023.
A news release issued on Aug. 14 said the investigation began on Feb. 15, 2023, when a concerned citizen reported an active bald eagle nest on a private property being created for a subdivision. A Texas Game Warden visited the site to verify the nest and confirmed seeing two bald eagles sitting atop it.
However, five days later, during a subsequent site visit, special agents from USFWS reported discovering that the nest had been illegally destroyed.
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The release said that bald eagles were removed from Endangered Species Act protection in June 2007 but remain protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Killing, disturbing, or harming eagles' feathers, nests, or eggs is illegal.
The maximum penalty for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is one year in jail and $100,000 per individual or $200,000 per organization for the first offense. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act carries penalties from six months to one year in jail and fines of up to $250,000 per individual, depending on the offense.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services is offering $1,500 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s) in the case.
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Anyone with information is asked to contact the Service’s Office of Law Enforcement in Fort Worth, Texas, at 817-334-5202 or the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Operation Game Thief hotline at 800-792-GAME. Callers with information may remain anonymous.
