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serious crime against the community.”
Killing or in any way harming a bald eagle is prohibited under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Endangered Species Ac? and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as well as some state laws.
Conviction brings fines up to $25,000 on each count as well as jaQ time.
Because they feed primarily on fish, most of Virginia’s 300-plus bald eagles live in the Tidewater area? where the rivers are wider. 2
Mr. Clark said that when crime$ such as the bald eagles’ killing arg discovered, they are sometimes considered “folksy mischief.” However? he said, “You can’t just buy anothefi bald eagle. What has been stolefg from the people of Rappahannock and Madison counties can’t be re^ placed.” * Z
Anyone with information abou£ the killings should contact Mrr Bankston at the Rappahannock Sheriffs Office, 675-3332 or the Viiw ginia Department of Game and In? land Fisheries at 800-237-5712; Anyone wishing to add to the re« ward should call the Wildlife Center of Virginia at 703-234-9453. Informal tion will be kept confidential. *
Most bald eagles in Virginia reside along tidal rivers near the Chesapeake Bay. The pair found in Rappahannock is thought to be the same pair seen periodically through out the winter along the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge.
Mr. Clark said there are abou& 120 nests and a population of300-50(1 in Virginia. *
Eagles feed primarily on fish£ though they will supplement their diet with carrion. The large gray and white birds stand 24-30 inches tall and have a wing span of more thaff six feet. The male and female eaglesr weighed approximately eight and ten pounds, respectively.
The wide use of DDT throughout the United States during the 1940» and 1950s contaminated many food sources upon which bald eagles de» pended. ?
The insecticide caused egg shelf thinning in bald eagles and other birds.
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