Overview
- Five bald eagles were found dead in Delta County’s Garden Peninsula over April 3–17 in a tight area between Big Bay de Noc and Lake Michigan.
- The DNR, which on Monday said the birds did not die from natural causes, predators, or vehicle strikes, is investigating the case as suspicious.
- Officials are asking the public to call or text the Report All Poaching Hotline at 800-292-7800, with anonymity offered and rewards possible for tips that lead to prosecution.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local tribes are assisting the inquiry in what state officials describe as a focused wildlife investigation.
- Bald eagles are protected under state and federal law, with Michigan penalties that include up to 90 days in jail, fines of $100–$1,000 per bird, and $1,500 restitution, while federal law allows far steeper fines; the species has rebounded in Michigan to roughly 900 breeding pairs, which makes a cluster of unexplained deaths noteworthy.