
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, July 29, 1995                   TAG: 9507310030
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: OAK GROVE                                LENGTH: Short

BALD EAGLE DIES AFTER BEING SHOT

An adult male bald eagle suffering from gunshot wounds that left it unable to eat died en route to the veterinarian.

``It was all bones,'' said Mary Holt, a special agent for the state Wildlife Service who is investigating the illegal shooting.

Residents of the Placid Bay subdivision in Westmoreland County noticed the bird was having trouble flying. Game Warden Mike Morgan captured the emaciated bird Wednesday, but it died as he was taking it to the vet.

An autopsy showed the bird had wounds caused by shotgun pellets that were infected, and it hadn't eaten in about two weeks. Holt said authorities believe the bird was shot at least two weeks ago.

Bald eagles are on the federal Endangered Species list, but have made a dramatic comeback in Virginia. The number of nesting pairs in the state has climbed from 32 in 1977 to more than 100.

by CNB