Poaching of wildlife and protected species effects everyone, and continues to be a problem in Southeast Missouri.
On June 26, Butler County Conservation Agent Caleb Pryor was notified of a red-tailed hawk found dead in Poplar Bluff from an apparent gunshot, with entrance and exit wounds visible.
Even worse, Pryor said, the bird's feet had been cut off.
"It appeared to be dumped on Peach Street," he said, "but I do not think it was shot there."
All birds of prey, including hawks, owls, falcons and eagles, Pryor noted, are protected under federal law. That makes it illegal to kill or possess parts of the birds.
Pryor said he still is investigating the case and is looking for help from anyone who may have seen anything or heard someone talking about it.
Pryor asks anyone with information to call him at 573-300-3693 or the Department of Conservation's Operation Game Thief line at 800-392-1111. All information, he said, is kept strictly confidential.