Bald Eagle Shot and Maimed In Texas Has to Be Euthanized

A bald eagle that was reportedly shot in Southeast Texas was euthanized as authorities tried to find out more information about who shot it.

The eagle was found on a family farm near Fort Anahuac Park, east of Houston, with a gunshot wound to the face, KRIV-TV reported. The bird was taken to the Wildlife Center of Texas for evaluation before it was euthanized.

"(The eagle) was admitted severely weak and emaciated and immediately given supportive care and a veterinary examination," said a statement on the Wildlife Center of Texas' Facebook page. "He was then rushed to obtain radiographs (x-rays) of his entire body. Unfortunately, the injuries he sustained were too traumatic.

"His beak was almost completely severed from his skull, leaving his nasal cavity open to continuous infection. In addition, he was not visual in his right eye, making hunting almost impossible," the statement continued.

Sharon Schmalz, Wildlife Center of Texas executive director, said that the eagle would not have survived on its own in the wild, KRIV-TV reported.

"That's our national bird and we're proud of it and they're beautiful, so I can't even imagine why somebody would want to shoot a bald eagle," Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne said, per KRIV-TV. "It's definitely a cruelty to animals charge when you essentially take the beak off of an animal."

Hawthorne said the shooting may have been intentional based on information his office has gathered in an investigation and the suspected shooter could face federal and state charges if captured.

The U.S. Wildlife Service said anyone convicted of violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act could face a possible prison sentence and a fine, the Houston Chronicle reported. The newspaper added that a $2,000 reward has been offered for additional information in the case.

"We would like to remind everyone how vital it is to teach compassion for all life from a young age," stated the Wildlife Center of Texas Facebook page post on the bald eagle incident. "Compassion for animals teaches compassion for our own kind."

• Bigfoot in Michigan Photobombs Eagle Nest Cam? See It, Believe It
• Shotgun Offense: Eagles QB Wentz Gives His Linemen Christmas Guns