ESVA man pleads guilty to killing eagles and hawks

We initially did not disclose the name of the perpetrator. We regret the error.

An Eastern Shore man has been sentenced to one day in jail, two years of probation, and nearly $10,000 in fines after admitting to killing more than 20 bald eagles and hawks to protect ducks on his property. According to Molly Kirk with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Virginia Conservation Police Master Officer Brian Bratton concluded the investigation on March 31, 2024, with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The case began during the 2023-24 waterfowl season, when Bratton received a tip about raptors being trapped and poisoned. Investigators later found multiple eagle and hawk carcasses—including a juvenile bald eagle—and a pole trap on the suspect’s property. Lab testing confirmed the eagle had been poisoned with carbofuran (Furadan), a pesticide banned in the U.S.

During an interview, William Smith of Hallwood admitted to killing both juvenile and adult bald eagles, as well as red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks. He also surrendered a can of carbofuran. The U.S. Attorney prosecuted the case, and the defendant pleaded guilty to violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibits the take, possession, or sale of eagles, their parts, nests, or eggs.

“He was killing the hawks and eagles because they were killing the ducks he was trying to attract to his impoundment,” Bratton said. “It was late winter, and food was scarce. These birds were hunting, and in his mind, the ends justified the means.”

Bratton added that he and his colleagues had encountered the suspect before on prior waterfowl violations. “That many hawks and eagles is pretty significant,” he said. “I feel like this is a win for protecting the resource from further loss.”