Coeur d'Alene Tribe responds to sentencing of man for killing 3,600 birds including eagles

A man from Cusick, Washington, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for killing 3,600 birds, including bald and golden eagles. The Coeur d'Alene Tribe emphasizes the cultural significance of eagles, which are sacred to many Native Americans. In response to the killings, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe operates an eagle aviary that houses injured or abandoned eagles. The aviary, established with a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2016, also serves as an educational facility for the community. The tribe reports a growing eagle population and has not encountered poaching in recent years. Future plans for the aviary include securing funding and relocating it to a more accessible site.