Third Eagle Shot In Two Weeks On Navajo Nation

By Laurel Morales
Published: Monday, April 9, 2018 - 3:21pm
Audio icon Download mp3 (835.14 KB)
(Photo courtesy of National Eagle Repository)
Adult and juvenile golden eagle feathers.

Three eagles have been shot in the last two weeks on the Navajo Nation in a series of illegal poachings. The latest injured golden eagle was rescued last week near Farmington.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the eagle shootings. All three had their tail feathers removed. Eagle parts and feathers are used in many tribes' traditional ceremonies. And Fish and Wildlife Service officials said non-Natives pay a high price for them on the black market.

Gail Garber runs the Albuquerque-based conservation group Hawks Aloft, which helped rescue the birds. She said veterinarians were able to save two of the three eagles. At least one of the birds will go to the Navajo eagle aviary.

"It will live out its life there and the feathers that it molts naturally will be gathered and they will be distributed to tribal members," Garber said.

Bald and golden eagles are protected by federal laws. Fish and Wildlife Service officials are offering a reward for information about the shootings. A person can be fined as much as $250,000 dollars for harming or taking an eagle.

Fronteras
Eagle Feathers