Men Charged with Slaying Bald Eagles and Trafficking Body Parts for Profit

Two men have been charged with illegally killing thousands of birds, including bald and golden eagles, and selling their body parts for profit. The men allegedly killed around 3,600 birds over several years and sold the carcasses or portions of them on the black market. They have been charged with conspiracy, unlawful trafficking, and violating the Lacey Act, a federal law against illegal wildlife trafficking. The accused hunters targeted bald and golden eagles in Montana, with one acting as the shooter and shipper, while the other traveled from Washington to meet him. The men boasted about their crimes and referred to themselves as being on a "killing spree." The bald eagle population has quadrupled since being delisted from the endangered species list in 2007, but still faces threats such as lead poisoning and wind energy farms. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in January.