Illegal Bird Killing Spree: Men Charged with Selling Protected Eagles on Black Market

Two men from Montana and Washington have been charged with killing approximately 3,600 birds, including bald and golden eagles, in a "killing spree" and selling their parts on the black market. The men conspired with others to hunt and kill the birds, using tactics such as luring eagles with a dead deer. They sold eagle feathers, tails, wings, and other parts for significant sums of cash across the United States. The killings began in 2015 and continued until 2021. Bald and golden eagles are protected by U.S. law, and the illegal trade in their parts is driven by a backlog of permit requests for legitimate religious purposes. The accused face multiple charges of unlawful trafficking and violating wildlife trafficking laws.