DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are asking for help in identifying a person who shot a bald eagle near Milton Reservoir earlier this month.
The bird died as a result of hemorrhaging and tissue damage from the gunshot wound and was found dead on May 10 a mile east of Milton Reservoir, officials said.
CPW officials say a nearby landowner had seen the eagle perched in his pasture the evening before it was found dead in nearly the same spot.
A necropsy performed on the bird found it had been shot across its lower abdomen, and that it suffered a broken leg, fractured liver and hemorrhaging inside its abdomen.
Officials said they believe the eagle was alive for between 24 and 48 hours before it succumbed to its wounds.
Another bald eagle was shot late last year near Steamboat Springs and had to be euthanized.
Bald eagles are protected under federal and state law. Anyone who believes they might have information about the shooting is asked to call CPW at 970-472-4300 or the Operation Game Thief hotline at 877-265-6648.
