Two Nebraska men charged after shooting, killing bald eagle

Didn’t they know that’s ill-eagle?

Two Honduran nationals were arrested in Nebraska on Tuesday after shooting and killing a North American bald eagle with the intention of cooking and eating the protected national bird.

The two men were identified as Ramio Hernandez-Tziquin and Domingo Zetino-Hernandez, both 20-year-old Honduran nationals living in Norfolk, the Stanton County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

The duo indicated to authorities that they “planned on cooking and eating the bird,” according to the news release.

Police officers responded to a report around 4:00 p.m. of a suspicious vehicle near the main Wood Duck Recreation area, located about three miles southwest of Stanton.

The car was found on a field in the 629-acre wetland and when officers stopped the men they determined they had a dead North American Bald Eagle in their possession.

“Further investigation revealed that the two had shot and killed the protected national bird in that area and stated they planned on cooking and eating the bird,” the release stated.

Nebraska Game and Parks was contacted and took custody of the eagle and the rifle used to kill the bird of prey.

Both Hernandez-Tziquin and Zetino-Hernandez were cited for unlawful possession of the eagle.

Hernandez-Tziquin was also cited for not having a driver’s license.

Additional charges against the men are pending as officials continue to investigate the unlawful killing, according to the release.