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Poachers Caught With Bald Eagle They Killed, Intended To Eat The Bird — Criminals Facing Harsh Legal Consequences
Two men killed a bald eagle and planned to eat the majestic bird. They claimed they thought the bald eagle was a ‘vulture.’
Two men were cited for unlawful possession of a bald eagle in Nebraska. Yahoo News reported that the men intended to eat the bird. Ramiro Hernandez-Tziquin and Domingo Zetino-Hernandez, 20-year-old Honduran Nationals, used a rifle to shoot the eagle on private property in Stanton County.
The men were charged with misdemeanors, but the Sheriff’s Office said they would likely face additional charges, as killing a bald eagle is “ illegal” at the federal level. After law enforcement approached the men, who did not speak English, police learned the immigrants had no idea that killing an eagle was a federal crime.
Sheriff Unger said in an interview, according to New York Times, he received a call about 4 p.m. on Wednesday from a resident who saw a car driving through their property near the Wood Duck State Wildlife Management area. Deputies responded to the call and questioned the men. Because the men spoke Spanish, the police used a translation app to inquire about the bald eagle.