Eagle allegedly shot, killed on Lake Conroe
Montgomery County game wardens are investigating a report that someone shot and killed a bald eagle on Lake Conroe.
Game Warden Brannon Meinkowsky said it was reported Saturday that someone had a bald eagle in a boat, but as of Monday, game wardens had not been able to confirm the report.
Meinkowsky said if a person is identified for shooting a bald eagle, the case would be turned over to federal officials.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act could result in a $100,000 fine, one year in prison or both. A second offense of the act is a felony.
Meinkowsky said this would not be the first time a bald eagle has been killed in Montgomery County.
“It has happened before, but it is pretty rare,” Meinkowsky said. “They are becoming more common in the area. Twenty years ago it was rare, but now it is almost common to see one.”
Lake Conroe has long been a place to see bald eagles.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, bald eagles typically lay between one and three eggs and hatching takes place in January. Young eagles generally leave the nest in 10 to 12 weeks. The adults may feed them for up to six weeks while the young learn to hunt. About 70% of the eagles that hatch survive their first year of life.
Eagles are believed to be monogamous breeding pairs for life. They can live up to 20 years in the wild.
The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was enacted in 1940. In 1978 the bald eagle become an endangered species.
to federal officials, habitat destruction and degradation, illegal shooting, and the contamination of its food source decimated the eagle population. Habitat protection spurred by the Endangered Species Act and conservation actions taken by the American public have helped bald eagles recover remarkably.
Bald eagles were removed from the endangered species list in August 2007 because their populations recovered sufficiently.
Anyone with information about the reported shooting of the bald eagle on Lake Conroe can call 512-389-4748.