California Bald Eagle Was Electrocuted, Not Shot

MILPITAS, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a bald eagle found dead last month in Silicon Valley was electrocuted by a power line.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says Monday that no bullet fragments were found in the eagle's body, indicating it wasn't the victim of a poacher as feared.

Instead, an examination concluded that the juvenile bird, which wasn't fully developed, flew into a high voltage line in Milpitas. It was found July 13 underneath some lines.

State wildlife officials say such raptor deaths do happen on rare occasions.

Authorities say the bird was one of two born earlier this year to an eagle pair that settled in Milpitas two years ago and had built a nest in trees near an elementary school. The eaglets only began learning to fly in July.

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