EAST PENN TOWNSHIP -- Who would kill a bald eagle?
That's what officers from the Pennsylvania Game Commission want to know.
Last week, a person near the Carbon and Schuylkill county line heard gun shots and then found the bird injured off of Germans and Stone Mountain Road near Andreas.
By the time the game commission arrived, the eagle was already dead.
Conservation officers are trying to figure out who shot the bird and why. So far, those questions are unanswered.
Those who live near where the bird was found say the bald eagle was like a neighbor in this community.
"He used to fly through here and fly back and it was just a beautiful thing to see and it's just a shame," said Ann Bonner of East Penn Township.
Troy Kidd of East Penn Township said, "Sometimes you only see that in a paper or a book, magazine, but was incredible to catch that live."
The game commission believes someone shot that bird in the area of East Penn Township off of Germans Road, but there are signs posted almost everywhere that say no trespassing and no hunting.
That has people in this area feeling pretty disgusted over what happened.
"It's beautiful to see, you know, the American bird. I don't know why anyone would even think of shooting such a beautiful bird," said Bonner.
Neighbors said that community in Carbon County is usually pretty quiet and most people there love seeing wild animals out and about.
They hope the game commission can find whoever did the crime.
"I hope they get caught. I really do. If I would know who it was, I would tell the game commission myself," said Kidd.
If someone is caught, the game commission said that person could be in big trouble. It all depends on if the person will end up facing federal charges. That could cost the culprit $250,000 and two years behind bars.
