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Bald eagle found shot on Western Pennsylvania trail euthanized

Bald eagle found shot on Western Pennsylvania trail euthanized
FOUND THE BIRD. HE WALKS THE TRAIL EVERY DAY. >> TALKING WITH CLIFF WISSINGER YOU COULD TELL THIS WAS A DIFFICULT EXPERIENCE FOR HIM. HE SAYS HE WAS WALKING ALONG THE WEST PENN TRAIL WHEN HE SPOTTED THE EAGLE AND AT FIRST HE WASN’T SURE WHAT IT WAS. THIS WAS THE PICTURE CLIFF WISSINGER TOOK AS HE APPROACHED THE LARGE BIRD JUST SITTING ON THE TRAIL. SECONDS LATER HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG. OFFICERS TOOK THE BIRD TO A RESCUE, BUT ULTIMATELY, THE EAGLE HAD TO BE EUTHANIZED. >> WHOEVER DID IT, IT’S MEAN. THAT’S IT. >> NOW THE FOCUS IS ON FINDING WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE. THE STATE GAME COMMISSION CONFIRMS THEY ARE INVESTIGATING. OFFICERS BELIEVE THE EAGLE WAS SHOT AT SOME POINT BETWEEN LAST THURSDAY AND FRIDAY MORNING. AND WHILE OFFICIALS SEARCH FOR THAT SUSPECT WISSINGER IS MORE , CONCERNED WITH KNOWING WHY, AND HIS MESSAGE TO WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE IS CLEAR. >> NEVER OWN A LICENSE, NEVER OWN A PET. I DON’T CARE IF THEY GO TO JAIL OR NOT. HOPEFULLY, THEY WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID. >> BALD EAGLES ARE FEDERALLY PROTECTED AND THAT CAN COME WITH
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Bald eagle found shot on Western Pennsylvania trail euthanized
A bald eagle that was found shot in Westmoreland County had to be euthanized, officials have confirmed.Watch the full report in the video player above.Cliff Wissinger told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that he was walking along the West Penn Trail in Derry Township on Friday evening when he discovered the injured bird. "As soon as his head came out from under his feathers you could see the blood on the feathers," Wissinger said. The bald eagle was taken to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Verona, but its injuries were so severe veterinarians made the decision to euthanize it."Whoever did it is just mean. That's it," Wissinger said.Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are in the process of interviewing people, hoping to find the person responsible.

A bald eagle that was found shot in Westmoreland County had to be euthanized, officials have confirmed.

Watch the full report in the video player above.

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Cliff Wissinger told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that he was walking along the West Penn Trail in Derry Township on Friday evening when he discovered the injured bird.

"As soon as his head came out from under his feathers you could see the blood on the feathers," Wissinger said.

The bald eagle was taken to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Verona, but its injuries were so severe veterinarians made the decision to euthanize it.

"Whoever did it is just mean. That's it," Wissinger said.

Pennsylvania Game Commission officials are in the process of interviewing people, hoping to find the person responsible.