CPW asking for tips in bald eagle shooting investigation
Kara Van Hoose
January 26, 2026
Colorado Parks and Wildlife asking for tips in bald eagle shooting
DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife is investigating the shooting of a bald eagle in Northglenn. On January 12, CPW officers, Northglenn park rangers and Northglenn Animal Control officers responded to an eagle on the icy shoreline at Croke Reservoir, near W 104th Avenue and Huron Street. The raptor was safely captured and taken to a local wildlife rehabilitation facility for treatment. X-rays showed the eagle had been shot in the wing with a ball bearing. The eagle underwent surgery to remove the metal projectile, and it is recovering at the rehabilitation facility.
As a federally and state protected species, the shooting or injury of a bald eagle is illegal under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. CPW is asking the public to report any tips about the shooting to Operation Game Thief (OGT) at 1-877-265-6648 or [email protected]. Reports to OGT can remain anonymous. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be contacted at 1-844-397-8477 or [email protected].
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PHOTO CUTLINES:
Top: X-ray showing ball bearing lodged in wing of bald eagle
Bottom left: Wildlife rehabber caring for injured bald eagle
Bottom right: X-ray detailing the ball bearing location
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
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