Shooting a Bald Eagle Is a Federal Crime — And It Just Happened in Colorado

In the United States of America, there are numerous symbols that represent the country. There’s the Statue of Liberty, a monument given to the U.S. by France that has served as a symbol to welcome immigrants arriving in New York for centuries, the United States flag, and the country’s national bird, the bald eagle, to name a few.

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The bald eagle is a bird of prey that was once considered a threatened species but was exempted from that status in 2007, and has been considered a National symbol of the United States of America since the country’s inception.

The animal has not only served as a symbol for the country, but has served as the inspiration for the name of Colorado’s Eagle River and, subsequently, the town of Eagle, Colorado.

Unfortunately, one bald eagle specimen was recently shot in Colorado by what news outlets are reporting to have been a ball bearing, and local authorities are currently searching for the parties responsible.

Bald Eagle Shot in Colorado

The bald eagle was apparently shot near Croke Reservoir in the Denver suburb of Northglenn on Monday, January 12, 2026, and was discovered wounded by the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife the same day.

Luckily, the bird did not succumb to its injury and is expected to make a full recovery.
All types of eagles are federally protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and shooting any of these types of birds is a crime in the United States.

Read More: Emu Spotted At Lake Pueblo State Park In Colorado

Check out the full story from 9 News here.