Brush Prairie Resident Charged with Killing Bald Eagle: Violation of Federal Law
A Brush Prairie resident, Benjamin G. Allen, has been charged with violating federal law for killing a bald eagle by shooting it with a shotgun on February 5, 2026. Allen is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on September 8, 2026. The incident was reported when a dead eagle was found with blood around its head on Allen's property, where he kept chickens. An examination revealed that the eagle had two shotgun pellets in its brain, leading to its death. Allen faces charges for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and unlawfully killing a migratory bird, which could result in imprisonment and fines if convicted. The case is under investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Sean H. Waite.