In this Jan. 28, 2016, photo, a bald eagle holds a fish taken from the Haw River below Jordan Lake in Moncure, N.C. Jordan Lake, a 14,000-acre reservoir in the Triangle Region of the state is home to a dozen or more pairs of nesting bald eagles. The many miles of shoreline make for a perfect habitat for the nation's symbol. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Authorities are investigating the shooting and dismemberment of a bald eagle in Iowa.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources said the eagle was found at Yellow Banks County Park near Des Moines by a hiker on Wednesday, the Des Moines Register reported.
In addition to being shot, the bald eagle had his head and talons removed, making it more difficult to estimate when it had died.
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“We don’t have much to go on so we need some help. If anyone saw or heard shots in this area during the first two weeks of the year, we would like to know about it,” State Conservation Officer Nate Anderson said in a statement.
The Iowa DNR said it’s searched for the person or persons responsible.
Bald eagles have been protected on the state and federal levels since 1940 under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
People with information can use the Turn in Poachers website at www.iowadnr.gov/tip or by calling the hotline at 1-800-532-2020.
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