Unprosecuted Felonies: Wind Farms Killed 67+ Eagles in Last Five Years

Fox News:  “Wind energy facilities have killed at least 67 golden and bald eagles in the last five years, but the figure could be much higher, according to a new scientific study by government biologists”

A federal law called the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act provides for the protection of the bald eagle and the golden eagle prohibiting the “taking” of eagles.  The term “take” includes killing an eagle.  See 16 U.S.C. 668c; 50 CFR 22.3. The civil penalties for violating the Act include a maximum fine of $5,000 or one year in prison.  Second convictions have a penalty of a $10,000 fine or up to two years in prison.  Killing an eagle can also be a felony with a fine up to $250,000 or two years in prison. Fine double if the killer is an organization.

Although killing eagles is a crime ignored by President Obama and Eric Holder you better not kill a duck without a permit or you may be prosecuted.  Obama’s Department of Justice chartered a helicopter to fly over land in North Dakota looking for dead ducks.  The federal duck police spotted two dead ducks in a pond on land owned by Oilman Bud Brigham, the head of Brigham Resources.  The ducks had drowned in oil run off ponds.  The feds charged Bud with crimes and prosecuted him.  If convicted he could have been imprisoned for up to six months for each death.

The judge threw out the case as absurd.  He said the federal duck police were trying to criminalize the following activities that result in dead ducks:  driving, owning a building with windows. farming and owning a cat.

See “Oil Companies Prosecuted for Avian Deaths but Wind Companies Kill Birds With Impunity.”