Michigan officials are asking for the public's help to solve an ongoing investigation into a series of dead eagles in the Upper Peninsula.
Between April 3 and April 17, five bald eagles were found dead in a single area on the Garden Peninsula, a piece of land extending south from Delta County that is bordered by Big Bay de Noc to the west and Lake Michigan to the east.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources investigators say the birds did not die naturally. According to First Lieutenant Mark Zitnik, a DNR Law Enforcement supervisor in Newberry, authorities can confirm that the eagles did not die from natural causes, predators, or vehicle collisions.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local tribes are currently assisting the DNR with the investigation.
Eagles are a state and federally protected species. State penalties for killing an eagle include a 90-day misdemeanor, fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 per eagle, a reimbursement of $1,500 per bird, and additional court costs.
The DNR is requesting tips from the public to help solve the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline by calling or texting 800-292-7800.
The DNR is investigating
The DNR is investigating
