HOUSTON – A 43-year-old Porter resident was sentenced to federal prison and issued a fine after shooting and killing a bald eagle in his backyard.
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Santos Guerrero pleaded guilty to the shooting, and was ordered to serve 14 days in federal prison and pay a $5,000 fine.
Bald eagle shot and killed in Porter
The backstory:
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Guerrero shot the bald eagle while it was perched in a tree in his backyard on Oct. 11, 2024.
Law enforcement arrived at Guerrero’s home after receiving reports of the shooting and watching video of the eagle being shot and falling from the tree.
Authorities identified the tree from the video and found the injured eagle hidden under a tarp in Guerrero’s garage. The bird was taken to an animal hospital, where veterinarians were forced to euthanize it because of the severity of its injuries.
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Officials report the bullet damaged the eagle’s wing and the fall caused liver fractures, internal bleeding, and a fractured leg.
Big picture view:
Under federal law through the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, it’s illegal to kill, possess, sell, transport, export, or import bald or golden eagles—alive or dead—including any of their parts, nests, or eggs.
Anyone who violates the Act will be fined no more than $5,000 or face more than one year in prison or both. In the case of a second offense, the person will be fined no more than $10,000 and face no more than two years in prison or both.
For more information on the act, read here.