Prosecutors: Man Allegedly Involved in Wildlife Trafficking Ring Responsible for Deaths of 118 Eagles | US News
A man aided in the killing of at least 118 eagles as part of a wildlife trafficking ring, according to court documents.
Travis John Branson earned between $180,000 (£136,750) and $360,000 (£273,500) from 2009 to 2021 by selling the feathers and body parts of bald and golden eagles on the black market, prosecutors for the US Attorney’s Office in Montana revealed.
Warning: This article contains an image of parts of a deceased eagle that some individuals may find distressing
Branson, from Cusick, Washington, is set to be sentenced in a federal court on 18 September for his involvement in the trafficking operation, which was active on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana and other locations.
“It was common for Branson to hunt as many as nine eagles at once,” prosecutors stated.
“Besides killing eagles, Branson dismembered them to sell for additional profits.”
Branson admitted guilt in March to conspiracy, wildlife trafficking, and two counts of trafficking federally protected bald and golden eagles, facing a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 (£189,930) fine.
However, under a plea agreement, prosecutors indicated they would move to drop additional trafficking charges. They also mentioned that federal guidelines recommend a sentence of approximately three to four years in prison for Branson.
Golden eagle feet recovered by law enforcement officers from a Washington state man’s vehicle. Pic: US Attorney for the District of Montana via AP
Prosecutors also urged Judge Dana Christensen to sentence Branson to a “lengthy imprisonment” and restitution amounting to $777,250 (£590,500), which includes $5,000 for each deceased eagle and $1,750 for each of the 107 hawks that investigators claimed he and his accomplices killed.
Up to 3,600 birds were reportedly killed, with prosecutors citing a co-defendant, Simon Paul, who is currently at large.
They noted that investigators validated the minimum number of eagles and hawks killed based on Branson’s text messages and mentioned that two years’ worth of messages were unrecovered, meaning the “full extent of Branson’s killings is not fully accounted for”.
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Branson’s attorney argued that the number of birds killed had been exaggerated by prosecutors and had triggered public outrage over the case.
US law prohibits individuals without a permit from harming, killing, or disturbing eagles, as well as from taking their nests or eggs. Bald and golden eagles hold sacred significance for many Native Americans.
A recent US government study identified illegal shootings as a major cause of golden eagle fatalities.
