A bald eagle lies dead in Federalsburg, Maryland on 20 February 2016. Wildlife officials found that 13 bald eagles found dead in Maryland did not die from natural causes. Photo: Officer First Class Robert Karge / AP

By Oliver Milman
10 March 2016 (The Guardian) – Wildlife officials have said 13 bald eagles found dead in Maryland last month did not die from natural causes. A hunt for whomever killed the birds is under way. The bodies of the 13 eagles were found in a field in Federalsburg, Maryland on 20 February. It was first thought the birds may have fallen victim to Avian flu or another disease, but after necropsies by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) this possibility has been ruled out. Neil Mendelsohn, assistant special agent in charge for the USFWS’s north-east region, urged people to come forward with information. “We know these were human-caused deaths and someone has got to know something,” he said. “This is a very serious situation, the worst eagle kill I’ve seen. “This kind of thing does happen and it seems to be happening more and more across the north-east. We’ve seen eagles shot and poisoned.” [more]

Maryland officials search for killer of 13 bald eagles found in field