What_to_do_if_you_discover_an_eagle_or_a_threatened_or_endangered_species

What to Do If You Discover an Eagle or a Threatened
or Endangered (T&E) Species
Instructions for industry (owners, operators or consultants) and
non-USFWS employee Injury and Mortality Reporting (IMR)
System Users

Contents
IF THE ANIMAL IS DEAD ................................................................................................................................ 2
Instructions for Dead T&E Species ............................................................................................................ 2
Instructions for Dead Eagles ..................................................................................................................... 3
If You Discover a Freshly Dead Eagle .................................................................................................... 3
If You Discover an Eagle that is Not Freshly Dead ................................................................................ 3
IF THE ANIMAL IS ALIVE AND SICK OR INJURED............................................................................................ 5

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IF THE ANIMAL IS DEAD
WARNING ABOUT HANDLING DEAD BIRDS: Please always use protective gear when handling any bird,
since birds could be carrying disease and poisons that may be transmitted by handling the animal
without protection. If you need to transfer the bird, place the bird in a plastic bag (double bagging is
recommended), and do not transport it in an enclosed space (e.g. put it in the back of a pick-up or back
of the car versus inside the car with you, if possible).

Instructions for Dead T&E Species
Please call your US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) point-of-contact
Resident Agent in Charge (RAC) and your USFWS Ecological Services Field Office, or contacts indicated
in your permit (if you have a permit) before collecting or moving the carcass or its parts.
You must contact USFWS as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after discovery, or at the
beginning of the next business day to report the mortality. If you have obtained an incidental take
statement under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or an incidental take permit under
Section 10 of the ESA, you must follow the terms of those documents.
If you do not know the appropriate USFWS contact: Please visit the following links to help you locate
the correct USFWS OLE, Ecological Service, and Migratory Bird contact(s) for your location:





All USFWS Offices: https://www.fws.gov/offices/
USFWS Office of Law Enforcement Offices: http://www.fws.gov/le/regional-lawenforcement-offices.html
Regional Migratory Bird Program Offices: http://www.fws.gov/birds/about-us-regionaloffices.php
Regional Migratory Bird Permit Offices:
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/mbpermits/addresses.html

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Instructions for Dead Eagles
If You Discover a Freshly Dead Eagle
How do you know if you have discovered a freshly dead eagle? Eyes should not be sunken in, the
carcass should not smell, and there should not be any fly larvae present. Additionally, the carcass should
not have been opened by scavengers, and no organs should be visible.
1. Please call your USFWS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) point-of-contact Resident Agent in Charge
(RAC) and your USFWS Ecological Services Field Office, Migratory Bird Office, or contacts indicated in
your permit (if you have a permit) as soon as possible and inform them that you have found a freshly
dead eagle.
If you do not know the appropriate USFWS contact to notify: Please visit the following links to help you
locate the correct USFWS OLE, Ecological Service, and Migratory Bird contact(s) for your location:





All USFWS Offices: https://www.fws.gov/offices/
USFWS Office of Law Enforcement Offices: http://www.fws.gov/le/regional-lawenforcement-offices.html
Regional Migratory Bird Program Offices: http://www.fws.gov/birds/about-us-regionaloffices.php
Regional Migratory Bird Permit Offices:
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/mbpermits/addresses.html

2. Report the mortality in the USFWS Injury and Mortality Reporting (IMR) database, filling in as many
details as possible. Please note: If you have a permit with the USFWS, your permit conditions may
require you to fill in more than just the required and priority fields. Please check your permit conditions
to make sure you are providing all the information, and following all processes required for compliance
with your permit.




If USFWS personnel does arrive to collect the bird: please make sure you have logged all
information regarding the discovery into the IMR database, inform USFWS personnel that
you have done so when they arrive, and make sure the IMR Record ID# associated with
your entry in the IMR database is included with the bird when USFWS personnel collect it.
If you do not hear back from USFWS personnel within 48 hours, please follow the
instructions for “What to do if you cannot get ahold of a USFWS employee for further
instructions” section below.

If You Discover an Eagle that is Not Freshly Dead
1. Please call your USFWS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) point-of-contact Resident Agent in Charge
(RAC) and your USFWS Ecological Services Field Office, Migratory Bird Office, or contacts indicated in
your permit (if you have a permit) before collecting or moving the carcass or its parts. You must contact
USFWS as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours after discovery, or at the beginning of the next
business day to report the mortality.

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2. Report the mortality in the USFWS Injury and Mortality Reporting (IMR) database, filling in as many
details as possible. Please note: If you have a permit with the USFWS, your permit conditions may
require you to fill in more than just the required and priority fields. Please check your permit conditions
to make sure you are providing all the information required and following all processes for compliance
with your permit.
 If USFWS personnel does arrive to collect the bird: please make sure you have logged all
information regarding the discovery into the IMR database, inform USFWS personnel that
you have done so when they arrive, and make sure the IMR Record ID# associated with
your entry in the IMR database is included with the bird when USFWS personnel collect it.
 If you do not hear back from USFWS personnel within 48 hours, please follow the
instructions for “What to do if you cannot get ahold of a USFWS employee for further
instructions” section below.
What to do if you cannot get ahold of a USFWS employee for further instructions?
If you do not receive a call back from USFWS personnel within 48 hours with instructions. Leave the
bird in place, and make sure you have documented as much information (including photos) as possible
about the mortality in the IMR database. Continue to try to contact USFWS personnel for further
instruction. If a USFWS employee comes to retrieve the eagle or eagle parts, please make sure to give
the IMR Record ID# associated with your entry in the IMR database to the USFWS employee.

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IF THE ANIMAL IS ALIVE AND SICK OR INJURED
WARNING ABOUT HANDLING LIVE BIRDS: Eagles are powerful and dangerous animals that can cause
serious injury. If at all possible, make sure an experienced individual approaches and handles the eagle.
If you need to approach or handle the eagle yourself, please take appropriate precautions (i.e. gloves
and head/face protection) to avoid personal injury. Please always use protective gloves and clothing
when handling any bird, since birds could be carrying disease and poisons that may be transmitted by
handling the animal without protection.
1. Call a local federally permitted migratory bird rehabilitation facility or a licensed veterinarian for
instructions before handling the animal. A directory of rehabbers by state can be found at:
http://wildliferehabinfo.org/ If you need additional assistance, you may contact your Regional Migratory
Bird Permit Office: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/mbpermits/addresses.html
2. Report the injury in the IMR database, filling in as many details as possible (including photos of the
bird and its surroundings). Please note: If you have a permit with the USFWS, your permit conditions
may require you to fill in more than just the required and priority fields. Please check your permit
conditions to make sure you are providing all the information and following all processes required for
compliance with your permit.
 Please make sure the rehabber or veterinarian that takes the bird is provided with the
associated IMR Record ID # for the record you created to document the incident.
3. Call your USFWS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) point-of-contact Resident Agent in Charge (RAC)
and your USFWS Ecological Services Field Office, Migratory Bird Office, or contacts indicated in your
permit (if you have a permit) to inform them of the discovery and what steps you took with the injured
animal. You must contact USFWS as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours (24 hours for T&E
species) after discovery, or at the beginning of the next business day to report the injury. If you have
obtained an incidental take statement under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), or an
incidental take permit under Section 10 of the ESA, you must follow the terms of those documents.
If you do not know the appropriate USFWS contact to notify: Please visit the following links to help you
locate the correct USFWS OLE, Ecological Service, and Migratory Bird contact(s) for your location:





All USFWS Offices: https://www.fws.gov/offices/
USFWS Office of Law Enforcement Offices: http://www.fws.gov/le/regional-lawenforcement-offices.html
Regional Migratory Bird Program Offices: http://www.fws.gov/birds/about-us-regionaloffices.php
Regional Migratory Bird Permit Offices:
http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/mbpermits/addresses.html

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