A 66-year-old Brush Prairie resident faces federal charges for allegedly shooting and killing a bald eagle on his property earlier this year, according to an announcement by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Benjamin G. Allen is accused of using a shotgun to kill the bird on Feb. 5, 2026. The incident occurred in Clark County, where Allen reportedly kept chickens near the site where the eagle was found. The case involves two federal misdemeanor charges that carry significant financial penalties and potential prison time.
According to reporting by The Reflector, officers from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife were called to the Brush Prairie property after a dead eagle was discovered with blood around its head. A witness reported hearing a gunshot earlier that day. A subsequent veterinary examination confirmed the cause of death, finding two shotgun pellets lodged in the eagle’s brain.
Special agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service interviewed Allen regarding the bird and his actions on the day of the shooting. The investigation was a joint effort between federal agents and state wildlife officials.
Allen has been summoned to appear in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Sept. 8. He faces the following charges:
- A class A misdemeanor for violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.
- A class B misdemeanor for unlawfully killing a migratory bird, punishable by up to six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sean H. Waite. While the charges are allegations, the case highlights the strict federal protections afforded to bald eagles, which remain under the jurisdiction of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act despite their removal from the endangered species list years ago.
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