Hobby hunters shot 3’600 birds in Montana

Bloodlust and rampage

The indictment refers to a “bloodlust” and a “rampage.”

Two men in the US state of Montana are accused of having shot 3’600 birds over a period of six years and selling their feathers on the black market. Among the victims were protected raptor species such as bald eagles and golden eagles, reports the daily newspaper the «Washington Post».

Systematic wildlife crime

The men are charged with conspiracy, violation of the law protecting bald and golden eagles, and illegal trafficking . The indictment further states that one of the poachers “sent messages bragging about committing crimes and acting in a bloodlust like a rampage.” The feathers allegedly later earned the men “substantial sums.”

In their hobby hunting , the defendants allegedly proceeded systematically in order to get as many birds as possible in their sights. For instance, they reportedly laid out deer carcasses to attract and shoot scavengers.

The two men, each 48 years old, allegedly committed their crimes on the Flathead Reservation in Montana, a self-governed territory of the Native American Salish and Kootenai tribes. They face up to 18 years in prison if convicted on all counts, reports «Newsweek» magazine.

The bald eagle as national bird

The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States and is depicted on both the currency and the national seal. In the mid-20th century, the bald eagle was brought to the brink of extinction due to extensive hunting, the loss of habitat and the use of insecticides are threatened with extinction in many areas.

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, there were only 417 breeding bald eagle pairs in 1963. When the species was finally placed under protection, the population recovered. Today, approximately 71’400 breeding pairs are counted in the United States.