Bald eagle found with gunshot wound at Tacoma wetland dies

January 17, 2020 12:28 PM

Erin Robinson,

Posted: January 17, 2020 12:28 PM

by Erin Robinson

A wounded eagle is found at Tacoma's Gog Le Hi Te Wetland — Credit: Port of Tacoma

TACOMA, Wash. — A bald eagle found with a gunshot wound in Tacoma last week has been euthanized.

According to the Port of Tacoma, the wounded eagle was reported to the Department of Fish and Wildlife on January 9. It was found in the Port of Tacoma’s Gog Le Hi Te wetland complex, but Port of Tacoma agents were unable to locate the bird.

Another report came in a day later and biologists were able to find the bird. It was captured and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center on the Kitsap Peninsula.

An update on the injured bald eagle

While there, wildlife officials discovered the eagle had suffered a buckshot wound to its right wing. On Tuesday, it had to be euthanized.

“Due to the severity of the injury, the wildlife rehabilitators determined the most humane approach was to euthanize the adult bald eagle,” Port of Tacoma officials said.

The case is now under investigation by wildlife agents. Bald eagles are federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

Anyone with information about who might have shot the eagle is asked to contact WDFW.