ANKENY, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is looking for the person who shot a bald eagle that died from its injuries.
The Ankeny Police Department contacted DNR and a Wildlife Rehabber about a mature Bald Eagle that was not acting normal and sitting on the ground.
The eagle died shortly after being capture. It was taken to S.O.A.R (Saving Our Avian Raptors) for further inspection and X-rays. The X-rays discovered a lead shot BB in the lungs of the eagle, which caused the eagle’s death.
Investigators think the eagle was shot in the northeast Ankeny area, likely between January 2nd-and-3rd.
A reward is being offered for any information leading to the arrest of poaching the eagle.
Anyone with information is urged to call the DNR poacher's tip hotline at 1-800-532-2020 or complete a confidential online tip form.
Bald eagles are protected by federal law, with fines of over $20,000 for harassing, killing or wounding an eagle.