DEC. Off. Tom Koepf
with
the wounded young bird
COCHECTON – The state Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating the shooting of a bald eagle in Cochecton. Harming a bald eagle is federal offense.
A resident reported a bald eagle near his home along the Delaware River on April 11. When a DEC officer arrived at the scene, he found the bird near a set of railroad tracks. It was suffering from a severely broken right wing.
The officer captured it and brought it to licensed wildlife rehabilitator Missy Runyan, who took the two-year-old female to a veterinarian where it was determined to have been shot. Dozens of lead fragments were observed around the broken bones in the wing.
The young bird was placed in Runyan’s care and was expected to survive.
Anyone with information that may help the DEC identify those involved in the shooting is asked to call the Region 3 Law Enforcement office at 845-256-3013.
