Officials have added another $5,000 to the reward offered for information that will lead authorities to the person responsible for shooting a bald eagle in Hamilton County four months ago.
The Humane Society of the U. S. and Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust added the money to a $2,500 reward offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after that reward failed to generate any leads.
According to a press release from the Humane Society, on March 9 officers with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency discovered the animal in the Lost Lake Subdivision. Investigators believe the bird was shot sometime between March 1 and March 9.
Bald eagles are protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. A felony conviction of violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act carry a maximum fine of $250,000 or two years of imprisonment, according the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"This senseless shooting and the blatant disregard for the survival of our national icon is appalling," said Eric Swafford, Tennessee state director for The Humane Society of the United States.
"We are grateful to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for their diligent efforts to bring the offender to justice."
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent at 615-736-5532, ext. 103 or the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency at 931-787-0859.