Bald

Would I get into trouble if I accidentally kill a bald eagle?

Let's say I was driving in a road and a bald eagle landed right in front of me and I ran over it and killed it. Will I get into trouble for this? What if I was shooting off fireworks on a Fourth of July and one accidentally hits a bald eagle and it goes down in flames?

Public Comments

1. Nope as long as you don't abuse it's corpse....
2. Then that would be an accident and so you wont be getting into trouble of any sort.
3. Killing a federally protected bird, is killing a federally protected bird. Impossible to accidentally do what you suggested.
4. I think it is a grey area. Someone was charged for killing balds eagle when putting out poison for coyotes. He was later pardoned, but the point is even accidental killings are at risk of penalties. It would be investigated. If you were found to be speeding you could be charged. If you were found to be reckless in discharging fireworks or if the fireworks were illegal you could be charged. The law is on the side of the eagles.