The Pennsylvania Game Commission has now filed charges against a local for shooting an adult bald eagle last Friday. 

Daniel Haddix of 2265 South Hill Road in McKean Township faces two summary charges for intentionally shooting the protected bird late last week.  

He is charged with unlawful taking of game or wildlife, and a violation of safety zones for firing his .22 caliber rifle too close to his neighbor's home.  Game Commission investigators say Haddix fired at the bald eagle from the back of his house which is 54 yards away from an occupied home, instead of the 150 yards as required by law.

As we first reported, Haddix told game commission investigators he killed the bird because he feared it would harm his barn cats. He said he knew he hit it and saw it fly over his home and heard it hit the ground in his neighbor's field across the road.  That neighbor, Harrison Zimmer, found the eagle when he was letting out his dog, and reported it to game officials. "So I tied him up and walked up and there was the bald eagle,"Zimmer said, "he landed with his wings half out like he was going to catch a mouse."

State Game Warden Michael Stutts who is investigating the case said it is the first time he was called to pick up a bald eagle that had been shot. "Normally we pick them up for various reasons, either hit by cars, injured from fighting each other, hitting power lines or just sick birds in general, but this was the first bird that I’ve picked up that had been shot."

He also said the eagle, likely a female, weighed about 12 pounds and had a wing-span of about eight feed.  "I have picked up a lot of eagles since I’ve been up in the northwest region, but this is by far the biggest bird that I’ve picked up to date."

Stutts said maximum fines and court costs will total about 32-hundred-dollars, and if federal charges are filed as well, costs will be even steeper.  "It’s a state and federally protected bird and with federal law it can reach fines upwards of 10-thousand-dollars and up to two years in jail."

Haddix had a lifetime senior hunting license which may also be revoked.

The charges were filed in the office of District Judge Denise Stuck-Lewis.  They will be sent to Haddix by mail.  He will then have to decide whether to pay the full fines or appear in court for a hearing.

The bald eagle is being held as evidence until investigation and prosecution of the case is completed.  After that the eagle's remains will be turned over to the Native American community for religious purposes.