A man involved in a massive wildlife trafficking operation that led to the deaths of at least 118 eagles is set to face sentencing in federal court. Travis John Branson, from Cusick, Washington, was part of a long-running scheme that trafficked eagle parts on the black market. The ring, which operated in Montana’s Flathead Indian […]
Tag: eagle
Injured Bald Eagle Recovering After Shooting Incident in Missouri
A bald eagle is on the road to recovery after suffering a severe gunshot wound in Missouri. The injured bird was brought to the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Missouri, where staff quickly began emergency treatment. The seven-pound male eagle had a severely damaged beak—a critical injury that could have been fatal. The World […]
Lebanon’s Migratory Birds Are Dying for TikTok Likes
On Mount Terbol in northern Lebanon, shell casings scatter across meadows, marking a grim scene for the millions of migratory birds traveling one of the busiest routes between Africa and Eurasia. This natural corridor, shaped by harsh winds, forces birds to fly low, making them easy targets for local poachers. Michel Sawan, director of the […]
Eagle Parents Spend Year Nursing Chick Who Fell Out of a Tree, Forsaking the New Nesting Season
In what seems to be a never-before-seen phenomenon among the species, a white-tailed eagle couple has skipped this year’s breeding season in order to care for a juvenile who broke a wing. Hatching in April, unseasonably wild weather blew an eaglet from its nest on the Isle of Mull during the July fledging season. Its […]
Man pleads guilty in eagle `killing spree´ on reservation to sell feathers on black market
MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) – A Washington state man accused of helping kill thousands of birds pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to shooting eagles on an American Indian reservation in Montana and selling their feathers and body parts on the black market. Travis John Branson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wildlife trafficking and two counts […]
Arrest warrant issued for Montana man accused of killing thousands of birds, including eagles
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) – A federal judge issued an arrest warrant Monday for a Montana man who failed to show up for an initial court appearance on charges of killing thousands of birds, including bald and golden eagles. A second defendant pleaded not guilty. The two men, working with others, killed about 3,600 birds on […]
Montana Man Faces Federal Charges for Killing Thousands of Eagles and Trafficking their Parts
A federal judge issued an arrest warrant for a Montana man, Simon Paul, who failed to appear for an initial court appearance on charges of killing thousands of birds, including bald and golden eagles. The indictment, unsealed last month, reveals that Paul, along with co-defendant Travis John Branson and others, engaged in the illegal killing […]
Symbolism and Patriotism: The American Bald Eagle in Popular Culture
The latest U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report found huge increases in the bald eagle population in America. The bald eagle population climbed to an estimated 316,700 individual bald eagles, including 71,400 nesting pairs. The American bald eagle holds a special place in history and culture and is native to most American states. Its symbolic value means it […]