Reward Increases to $20,000 In Louisiana Bald Eagle Killing

A reward in the investigation into the fatal shooting of a bald eagle in Louisiana’s Vermilion Parish has more than tripled to $20,000, as wildlife investigators continue looking for those responsible. First reported by KPEL’s Joe Cunningham in January 2026, the combined reward then reached up to $6,000, contributed by Humane World for Animals and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ($2,500 each) and Louisiana Operation Game Thief (up to $1,000). After more than eight months, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the amount is now up to $20,000, including an added $13,000 from the Center for Biological Diversity. The eagle was found shot near Erath after a report on Dec. 5, 2025.