Local Man Meets The Press

A local man recently gained nationally attention, but not in a good way. Keith Morehouse, of Glasgow, suddenly hit newspapers last week as being charged with illegally killing a golden eagle.

While the Helena Independent and the Billings Gazette printed details from the affidavit, they failed to mention that the incident actually occurred Feb. 23, 2013.

Morehouse said that there was no intent to kill the eagle. The accident happened after a snare was missed after removing several others. Morehouse was trapping other critters in the area. The affidavit stated that the eagle was found with the loop of wire around its neck and it died of strangulation from the trap.

Unfortunately, intent might not protect Morehouse from the charge. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act protects the bird. While the bald eagle has been protected since 1782, the golden eagle wasn't added to list until 1962.

Recently wind farms have been charged for accidental killings of golden eagles in Oregon. Found were 38 golden eagles among several other birds. That company faced several penalties and fines for the accidental killings.

The penalty for killing a golden eagle has increased and been amended several times over the years. Currently the fine for a misdemeanor offense can be up to $100,000 and up to two years of prison. Morehouse said that he hasn't been arraigned yet, and that environmentalist groups have been sending death threats to him since the story hit the press.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife didn't respond to calls.