$7,000 offered for help in 2018 Wyoming bird, dog poisonings

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - U.S. and Wyoming officials are offering cash rewards for useful information as they investigate the poisoning deaths of three dogs and dozens of birds including a bald eagle.

The poisonings happened in January 2018, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publicized them Friday.

The federal agency and Wyoming Game and Fish Department are offering up to $7,000 for information leading to a conviction. The person helping may remain anonymous, the Fish and Wildlife Service said.

The dogs were rushed to a veterinarian after eating poison-laced baits in an area about 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of Jackson but died nonetheless.

Poison also killed a golden eagle, a Swainson's hawk, 14 ravens, 17 magpies, one coyote and several small mammals.

Investigators found the dead animals and poison-laced baits scattered throughout the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission's Spence and Moriarity Wildlife Management Area.

Thousands of big-game animals and other wildlife spend the winter in the area between the Absaroka and Wind River ranges, not far from Dubois.

The crimes could be prosecuted under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which applies to birds including eagles, hawks, ravens and magpies.