Litter effectively killed bald eagle

On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, I was on patrol near Darrington when a call came to me concerning an injured, road-hit bald eagle. The reporting party told me a vehicle had struck the bird as it flew up from the roadside and was injured. The bird was deceased when I arrived a few minutes later. There had been two eagles along the roadside, according to the reporting party.

As I collected the carcass of the large adult, I saw the reason for the birds to be along the snowy, busy highway. Two plastic seal-a-meal bags and a plastic grocery bag lay in the disturbed snow with the remaining messy attractants. Although the bags may have flown out unintended, it is more likely some slob tossed their mess out of a vehicle, thereby effectively killing the bird.

As a longtime state Fish and Wildlife officer with general authority, I take exception to littering. My colleagues and I truly enjoy citing litter violators. It is too bad that a majestic symbol of our country had to die because of someone’s thoughtless action.

As for the dead eagle, the carcass was turned over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for deposit in their federal repository to be used by tribal entities in religious ceremonies.

Please think about your actions before tossing your property for others to deal with.

Sgt. Randy Lambert

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Monroe