HUMPHREY, AR (News Release) – Enforcement officials with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have cited a Sheridan man who shot and wounded a bald eagle Monday on Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area. Garrett P. Davis admitted to shooting the eagle on the WMA in January.
After authorities were alerted to the juvenile eagle, it was quickly taken to a rehabilitator and has recovered. The eagle was shot in the right wing, resulting in a fractured right ulna. The steel pellet is going to remain in the wing and did not affect the healing process. The eagle has been nursed back to health and was released Saturday at the Wrape Plantation on Bayou Meto WMA near Stuttgart.
Davis was cited for the illegal taking of raptors. He has agreed to pay a fine of $2,500.
Karen Rowe, nongame migratory bird coordinator with AGFC, said a pair of duck hunters fished the eagle out of the water. “They wrapped the eagle in a hunting coat, put the eagle in their boat and called the wildlife officers to meet them at the boat ramp,” Rowe said.
Heavy penalties and jail sentences can be assessed to anyone shooting a bald eagle. Information can be made anonymously by phone at 800-482-9262 or by text to TIP411 (847411).
Rowe suggested donations to the rehabilitation facility to help with expense of care for the injured eagle. She said, “Raptor Rehab of Central Arkansas is the nonprofit raptor rehab facility that will spend its own money and time caring for this eagle until it can be released. You can make a PayPal donation help pay for the care of this eagle and other raptors at http://www.rrca-raptors.org/.”
