Tag: Bald Eagle

Texas man sentenced for killing bald eagle

Posted on by Leave a comment
brown and white eagle on leafless tree

A Houston-area man is headed to federal prison for shooting and killing a bald eagle. A news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas, said 43-year-old Santos Guerrero pleaded guilty on May 14. He was sentenced in August to 14 days behind bars and must also pay a $5,000 fine. In an email to NBC 5, Guerrero’s attorney Luis Baez wrote, “Mr. Guerrero is a hard-working, local business owner, and proud family man.

He accepted responsibility before Judge Gray and is looking forward to closing the case. The Government asked the Court for 30 days in jail, 1 year of federal probation, and a $9,500.00 fine. After hearing from both sides, Judge Bray sentenced him to 15 days with a $5,000.00 fine.” Texas Game Wardens were the first to learn about the shooting. In October 2024, a concerned citizen reported seeing a bald eagle that had been shot in Montgomery County. Texas Game Wardens responded and investigated, ultimately locating the injured eagle hidden beneath a tarp in Guerrero’s garage.

Veterinarians later euthanized the eagle because of the severity of its injuries. Texas Game Wardens turned over the case to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for further investigation and prosecution. In May, Guerrero admitted he shot the bald eagle at his residence. At the hearing in August, the court heard additional evidence that Guerrero shot the eagle in his backyard on Oct. 11, 2024, hid it in his garage, and later lied to authorities.

The court also reviewed video footage documenting the eagle before the shooting and its subsequent discovery. A necropsy determined that the bullet significantly damaged the eagle’s wing. The fall also caused liver fractures, internal bleeding, and a fractured leg. The eagle was euthanized.

After the sentencing, NBC 5 requested the video that the court reviewed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service posted a video to the Department of the Interior Law Enforcement’s social media page. The post included a warning, “The following video contains graphic content depicting a bald eagle being shot, falling from a tree and ultimately dying due to human actions. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.”

The post goes on to say, “While we understand this video is difficult to watch, this post is intended to be educational and unfiltered. Its purpose is to help viewers recognize that these incidents occur and to highlight why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has these regulations in place.”

U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray sentenced Guerrero, who was permitted to remain free on bond, and who will voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility on a date to be determined in the near future.

Although bald eagles are no longer listed as endangered, federal law continues to protect them under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The law prohibits anyone from killing, possessing, selling, transporting, exporting, or importing any bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg, without authorization.

Source: Texas man sentenced for killing bald eagle – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1 Thessalonians 5:15

Isaiah 45:2

“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, This verse reminds us…

Keep reading

Proverbs 21:23

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. This verse emphasizes that people who carefully watch what they say will protect themselves from serious trouble. “Guarding…

Keep reading

Slow to Speak: The Secret to Wise Reactions

Talk less, listen more, because wisdom speaks after it understands, not before. If you want stronger relationships and real influence, master this: control your tongue, calm your anger, and lead…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Washington man accused of shooting, killing bald eagle facing federal charges

Posted on by Leave a comment

Federal criminal charges have been filed against a Washington state man whom authorities allege fatally shot a bald eagle in the head on his rural property, authorities said. Benjamin G. Allen of Brush Prairie in Clark County, Washington, was charged Tuesday with violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and unlawfully killing a migratory bird, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

If convicted of the misdemeanor charges, Allen could face up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $500,000, the statement said. ABC News could not reach Allen for comment on Wednesday. It was unclear if Allen has hired an attorney. The 66-year-old Allen “is accused of shooting and killing the bird with a shotgun,” according to the statement. The incident occurred on Feb. 5, 2026, when a witness reported hearing a gunshot coming from Allen’s property, the statement said. “According to records in the case, special agents from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife were called to the property in Brush Prairie regarding a dead eagle with blood around its head,” according to the statement, which further said that agents interviewed Allen about the deceased eagle and “his actions that day.”

The statement did not disclose what Allen may have told the agents. “Allen kept chickens not far from where the dead eagle was discovered,” the statement noted, adding that an exam by a veterinarian concluded the eagle died from two shotgun pellets found in its brain. Allen has been summoned to appear in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, Washington, on Sept. 8. While bald eagles are the national symbol of the United States, they are no longer considered endangered. The birds, however, are still protected under the 1940 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibits individuals from killing them.

The charges against Allen come after a 42-year-old Texas man, Santos Guerrero, pleaded guilty in May to federal charges that he fatally shot a bald eagle on his property near Houston in 2024. Guerrero faces up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine when sentenced, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. In another case in Washington state, 49-year-old Travis John Branson of Cusick was sentenced to nearly four years in prison and fined $777,250 after he pleaded guilty in 2024 to charges stemming from the killing of numerous eagles and hawks on Washington’s Flathead Indian Reservation, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Branson admitted to a self-described “killing spree” of thousands of eagles and hawks between 2009 and 2021, butchering the birds and selling their parts, including eagle feathers, on the black market. Prosecutors said investigators traced the deaths of 118 eagles and 107 hawks directly to Branson.

Source: Washington man accused of shooting, killing bald eagle facing federal charges – ABC7 Chicago

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Ephesians 5:2

Psalm 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. In the verse David is praying in the morning while people who…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Big Bear wildlife activists name eagle spotted with Shadow

Posted on by Leave a comment
Bald eagle flying over mountain peaks at sunset

Wildlife activists on Thursday named the new eagle that has been spotted following Shadow through Big Bear’s treetops and skies. “Generally, Friends of Big Bear Valley does not give names to nest visitors unless they have been around long-term…until now,” the Friends of Big Bear Valley wrote in a Facebook post. FOBBV chose the name Kaydee after referring to the eagle as KD1 for the past week. Shadow’s new companion was spotted just days after his longtime mate, Jackie, died after nearly a month of health setbacks stemming from anemia and a mystery illness. Kaydee is a banded eaglet that hatched in the Prado Basin in Riverside County in 2021, according to field biologist Jenna Carpenter.

Her parents, named Ricky and Lucy, arrived in the Prado Basin 6 years ago and built a nest. KD hatched the second year, one of nine eagles who fledged here. She, like many eagles, is currently in Big Bear, which is normal behavior for young adults. “A lot of eagles just go to Big Bear to hang out for a while,” Carpenter said. “It’s not breeding season right now and so most of the eagles what they’re thinking about is being in good habitat with good food.” FOBBV said they aren’t sure if Kaydee is female but “are leaning towards” the eagle being female. Birdwatchers said Kaydee and Shadow have been flying around together for the past couple of days, flying to different trees and sometimes perching themselves on different branches for hours. 

Source: Big Bear wildlife activists name eagle spotted with Shadow – CBS Los Angeles

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

A study of the Mesha Stele

The Mesha Stele, also famously known as the Moabite Stone, is a 3-foot-tall black basalt monument dating back to circa 840 BCE. It is one of the most vital…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Big Bear bald eagle Jackie rescued by Los Angeles wildlife officials after fight with other eagles

Posted on by Leave a comment

A member of the beloved Big Bear bald eagle family was rescued by wildlife officials after it was involved in a fight, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.  In a news release, LA County Parks officials said that the San Dimas Raptor Rescue team was dispatched to rescue an eagle at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday. They made the more-than-two-hour trip to Big Bear and located the injured eagle, which was being monitored by San Bernardino County Fire Department personnel from Fire Station 96.  Friends of Big Bear Valley, the local nonprofit wildlife organization behind the famous Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam, says that an adult bald eagle was observed on the ground near Dana Point Park late Friday night near Dana Point Park, where it was also observed the prior day as well. 

“Later, that eagle was seen in a short ground altercation with two other subadult eagles,” FOBBV officials said in a social media post. “Cell phone video confirmed that the adult was able to fend off the other eagles by turning over and using its talons, but was unable to fly away.” A bald eagle swimming through water at Big Bear Lake. County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation After it was rescued, the eagle was taken to a rehabilitation facility that specializes in eagle care. LA County Parks officials shared a video that showed some steps of the rescue. “The adult eagle that we picked up was sick, very sick,” said a San Dimas Raptor Rescue official.

“There were no physical injuries, so we were able to do a quick assessment; look at her wings and stuff like that. There was nothing obvious, but she was very skinny and underweight.” The bird’s identity was initially unclear at the time of rescue, but FOBBV said that Jackie has not been seen on their 24/7 eagle nest cameras for several days. They said that Jackie, the so-called matriarch of Big Bear’s beloved bald eagle family, is not banded. They also noted that they’re unsure how many other bad eagles could be visiting the area at the time.  Later Sunday, they said that after reviewing photos and videos from the public and the rehabilitation center, the rescued eagle is “likely Jackie.”

“She is in the best place it can be and getting the care she needs,” said FOBBV’s statement. LA County Parks’ release said that they have been in communication with FOBBV regarding the eagle’s rescue and that she is currently being cared for at a facility in Ojai. The bald eagle rescued from Big Bear Lake by Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation San Dimas Raptor Rescue personnel. County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation Parks officials asked that the public refrain from contacting San Dimas Raptor Rescue for information or updates, as they would be shared by the appropriate organizations. Because bald eagles are a federally protected species, they require specialized rehabilitation permits that are issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and while the San Dimas Raptor Rescue can provide critical rescue services, bald eagles must be cared for by facilities that have “specific eagle rehabilitation authorization and expertise.”

On Tuesday morning, the Ojai Raptor Center said Jackie has more energy as she is eating well with assistance and is even picking up food on her own.  Tests showed that Jackie is anemic and has inflammation affecting her kidneys. They are unsure of the underlying issue causing these symptoms. X-rays did not show any fishing hooks, sinkers or other metal objects. The center is working with several specialist veterinarians to determine the best supportive care at this time.   

Source: Big Bear bald eagle Jackie rescued by Los Angeles wildlife officials after fight with other eagles – CBS Los Angeles

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
Matthew 17:5

Finding Truth and Life in Jesus

In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Birders, conservationists excited about first bald eagles to hatch in Chicago in over 100 years

Posted on by Leave a comment
black and white eagles in close up shot

Three baby bald eagles were recently born in Chicago, the first time the national bird of the United States has hatched in the city in more than a century. Conservation experts said it’s a sign that local ecosystem restoration efforts are working.  One Chicago birder captured some of the first images of two of those eaglets. In his free time, you can find Dustin Weidner listening, searching, and snapping pictures of birds around Chicago. A bald eagle caught Weidner’s eye while birding in Albany Park on Thursday.  

“You usually only see them along this river through the winter,” he said. In early April, whispers within the birder community led Weidner to a different eagle nesting at a park on the Southeast Side. “I’m sitting here watching a bald eagle nesting in the city of Chicago, and the craziest part is if this is successful, it will be the first time in something like 100 years,” he said at the time. He returned at the end of the month and recorded not one but two eaglets in the nest. “It’s a huge moment to have a bald eagle nest within city limits,” he said. While eagles are no longer an endangered species, and somewhat of a common sighting for birders, the Chicago Ornithological Society said the eaglets are a sign of how far conservation efforts have come.

Source: Birders, conservationists excited about first bald eagles to hatch in Chicago in over 100 years – CBS Chicago

No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

5 bald eagles mysteriously found dead in Michigan ‘not due to natural causes’

Posted on by Leave a comment
head of bald eagle

Five bald eagles were found dead in Michigan in a two-week span — sparking concern as environmental officials ruled they did not die from natural causes. All of the federally protected birds were discovered in the same area of the Upper Peninsula’s Garden Peninsula between April 3 and April 17, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Officials later determined that the bald eagles “did not die from natural causes, predators, or vehicle collisions.”

Source: 5 bald eagles mysteriously found dead in Michigan ‘not due to natural causes’

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.
Colossians 3:12

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Watch Pittsburgh’s bald eagle couple, eaglets online with nest cam

Posted on by Leave a comment
close up photo of eyases falcons

Over Easter weekend, famous eagle couple Jackie and Shadow welcomed a pair of eaglets in front of the world, as the hatchlings were captured live on the nest cam in Big Bear Valley, about 11 miles from Los Angeles. Pittsburgh has its own eagle family that welcomed chicks recently, too. Here’s what to know about them, and where to spot the birds in person. Who are Pittsburgh’s bald eagle couple? Bald eagles Stella and Irvin reside in a nest at U.S. Steel Corporation’s Mon Valley Works Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, about 12 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The eagles welcomed three chicks that hatched within the last month.

Source: Watch Pittsburgh’s bald eagle couple, eaglets online with nest cam

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2

First Big Bear bald eaglet hatches as second egg sees a pip

Posted on by Leave a comment
bald eagle perched on tree branch

Just days after the first pip of nesting season for Big Bear bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow, their first eaglet has hatched, and their second egg has a pip as Southern California fans of the duo anxiously await their newest family members. The eaglet hatched from its egg at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley. Earlier in the day, they advised fans that a bird is not considered hatched until it is completely free from its eggshell. 

The newest Big Bear bald eaglet, fully hatched from its shell on Saturday, April 4, 2026. Friends of Big Bear Valley “The chick has popped its head out of the shell to say a happy hatch day to mom and dad!” a Facebook post said, noting that the second egg belonging to the couple also appeared to have a pip.  Video from after the first egg’s pipping on Friday allowed a chance to hear the small chirps from the newest eaglet. FOBBV members said it can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for a chick to fully hatch after the initial pip. After that, the birds grow rather quickly, reaching three feet in just over two months.  A “pip” is the moment that the chick can break through the internal membrane, breach the eggshell and take its first breath of air, according to FOBBV.

Source: First Big Bear bald eaglet hatches as second egg sees a pip – CBS Los Angeles

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9

Big Bear eagles Jackie and Shadow see first pip of 2026 hatching season

Posted on by Leave a comment
bald eagle on tree

The nonprofit, which operates the widely viewed Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam, said chirping sounds were heard from inside the egg beginning Thursday afternoon and continuing through the night, signaling the eaglet had broken through the internal membrane and taken its first breath of air. By Friday, observers identified what appeared to be a pip, indicating the hatching process is underway. “This indicates that the chick was able to break the internal membrane and took its first breath of air,” the organization shared in a social media update. “Today we spotted an apparent pip (breach in the eggshell) and hatching is in the works.” Wildlife experts note that once a pip appears, it can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours for the chick to fully emerge from the egg. Jackie and Shadow’s nesting season has drawn global attention through the live camera feed, with viewers closely following each stage from egg-laying to hatching and eventual fledging.

Source: Big Bear eagles Jackie and Shadow see first pip of 2026 hatching season

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4