When Is It Okay To Kill Wyoming Eagles?

Recently a story was posted that a man was sentenced in Montana for killing thousands of eagles over 30 years.

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) -  Travis John Branson was sentenced for killing thousands of federally protected eagles and hawks on the Flathead Reservation.

Listen to the Montana U.S. Attorney's statement - below.

Montana’s U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich spoke to reporters outside the courthouse after the sentencing.

But wind turbines across the west kill many more eagles and other soaring birds, as well as bats, and they get a pass.

Far from prosecuting wind farms, we are building more.

Why is one okay but the other is not?

“Recognizing that eagles are not merely birds of biological interest, but also this country's national symbol, reflecting America's ideals of freedom and liberty, federal laws were passed to protect bald and golden eagles.”  (Montana’s U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich).

Two men are facing criminal charges in Nebraska after they shot and killed a North American bald eagle with the intent to eat it. (USA TODAY).

Bald eagles have been a protected species since 1940.

Eagles and their nests are federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Wounding or killing an eagle can result in a fine of $100,000 and one year in prison for a first offense.

A second violation is a felony and carries heftier punishments.

UNLESS YOU KILL THAT BIRD WITH A WIND TURBINE!

That's legal. Wind farms are even given permits allowing it.

Back in Montana Branson Will Spend Nearly Four Years in Federal Prison and Pay Restitution

“He (Travis John Branson of Montana) will pay restitution; or at least was ordered to pay restitution, in the amount of $770,250 which represents $5,000 per eagle killed, and $1,750 per hawk killed." (Montana’s U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich).

 

Laslovich said the sentencing that occurred on Thursday is just the beginning of legal actions against those responsible.

“We can't get back the hundreds, if not thousands of eagles and hawks that were slaughtered by Mr. Branson, but we can, and we will hold accountable those who are doing so, just as we've done with Mr. Branson today, he said. There's more to come, and we all look forward to justice being served in those cases as well.”

CODY, Wyo. (AP) — The rush to build wind farms to combat climate change is colliding with the preservation of one of the U.S. West’s most spectacular predators — the golden eagle — as the species teeters on the edge of decline.

November 23, 2013. A Wyoming wind farm, just outside of Casper, is fined by the federal government for killing a golden eagle.  (CSM).

Eagle deaths lead to Duke Energy Corp. paying $1 million for birds killed at two Wyoming wind farms. It was the first time a US wind energy company had been successfully prosecuted for the deaths of eagles or other protected birds. (CSM).

The answer from the Obama Administration was to give wind farms permits, allowing them to kill birds.

Wyoming is home to one of the largest habitats of the golden eagle. They used to be endangered. But over the years, through a lot of work, their numbers have stabilized.

Yet they are considered to be on the edge of slipping back into the endangered species category if they lose too many more.

One of the biggest dangers to birds of all kinds, and bats, is wind turbines.