WASHINGTON — Federal investigators looking into the deaths of 13 bald eagles in Maryland are asking the public for any information they might have that could shed light on what happened.
The eagles were discovered Saturday in Federalsburg, on the Eastern Shore.
“We’re looking for the cause of death determination,” said Bruce Corley, deputy resident agent in charge with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The agency is investigating the case along with the Maryland Natural Resources Police.
“If any of the local residents in that area saw something strange or something out of the ordinary, or have heard any rumors about what may have happened out there, we would really appreciate a call,” said Corley, who is directly involved in the investigation.
Currently, the birds are being examined at a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service forensics lab in Oregon.
“It’s not a common occurrence, and it tells us that something bad happened out there,” Corley said.
Although the cause of death is not yet known, the Maryland Natural Resources Police have said one theory is that the birds were poisoned, possibly by someone spraying chemicals on a field, or they may have consumed a rodent that had been poisoned. Police say there was no obvious sign of trauma to the birds’ bodies.
The incident marks the largest single-day die-off of bald eagles in Maryland in 30 years. The birds are no longer listed under the Endangered Species Act, but they are still federally protected.
A reward of $10,000 is being offered for information.
If you have any information about the incident, call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at 410-228-2476 or the Maryland Natural Resources Police at 800-628-9944.
