ACCOMAC, Va. - A man who admitted to killing more than 20 bald eagles and hawks on Virginia’s Eastern Shore was sentenced to a day in jail, two years of probation and nearly $10,000 in fines after pleading guilty to violating federal protections for birds of prey.
The investigation, led by Virginia Conservation Police Master Officer Brian Bratton and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent, began during the 2023-24 waterfowl season after authorities received a tip about a person trapping and poisoning hawks and eagles. The case came to a close March 31 after months of evidence gathering and interviews.
Bratton said the man had built a waterfowl impoundment on his property to attract ducks, but was frustrated by birds of prey feeding on them. That’s when he began a deliberate campaign to eliminate raptors from the area.
During a search of the property, Bratton and the federal agent discovered a pole trap and several carcasses. The condition of the bird led the officers to suspect poisoning.
“This particular poison acts so quickly that nine times out of 10 when an eagle, hawk or whatever eats something, it acts so quickly that they die with whatever they’re eating still in their claws,” Bratton said.
Lab tests confirmed that the eagle had been poisoned with carbofuran, a banned pesticide also known by the trade name "Furadan." The defendant later surrendered a can of the chemical and admitted to killing dozens of protected birds, including bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks and red-tailed hawks.
"He was very aware it was illegal, but in his mind, the ends justified the means, because he’s getting rid of the predatory birds to protect the ducks," said Bratton. That many hawks and eagles is pretty significant, so I feel like it’s a win for protecting the resource from further loss.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office brought charges under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibits the killing or possession of eagles or their parts, nests or eggs.