Osprey Shooting Prompts Reward

A male osprey was found dead from a gunshot wound in Palm Harbor Tuesday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation is offering a $700 reward through the Audubon Society for information leading to the arrest of the person who shot and killed the federally protected bird.

The osprey was was discovered at Cobbs Landing, on the sidewalk at Shoreline Circle. It had a single gunshot wound; an X-ray showed metal fragments from the bullet in its body.

The bird is being kept frozen at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, as an investigation into the fatal shooting gets under way.

Ospreys are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Steep fines and jail are possible penalties for those found convicted.

There is a double reward for information. The number of the Wildlife Alert program is 813-272-3840, ext. 8371.