ROLAND - The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is actively looking for the person who shot a bald eagle just south of Roland over the weekend. Greg Peters, an employee of Sheffield Farms made the discovery around 6:50 AM on Monday morning, while inspecting a farm field adjacent to County Road N 4790, which is about 1.5 miles south of Old Highway 64.
According to the department’s Facebook page, the eagle was shot in the head, likely from someone who was on the county road at the time.
As an American symbol, the bald eagle is protected under federal law. Violators can be punished with up to two years of prison and a $250,000 fine.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Department. According to the Animal Legal & Historical Center, a $2,500 reward is being offered to those who have information leading to the arrest and conviction of the animal’s killer.