Montana man sentenced to prison for illegally selling eagle feathers, parts, in South Dakota #Montana #man #sentenced #prison #illegally #selling #eagle #feathers #parts #South #Dakota

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — A federal judge in South Dakota has sentenced a Montana man to three years in prison for trafficking eagle feathers, wings and tails.

Harvey Hugs, 59, of Hardin, Montana, was sentenced Monday in Rapid City. He was found guilty in February of three counts of violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Rapid City Journal reported.

It’s illegal to possess, use, or sell eagles or their parts in the U.S., though there are exceptions for cultural institutions and Native Americans using them in religious ceremonies. Federal officials operate a clearinghouse to make eagles and eagle parts available to tribal members, as well as authorized zoos and museums.

This trail camera still image provided Mike Lockhart shows a bald eagle is seen landing on a trap set by a researcher, on April 30, 2023, near Medicine Bow, Wyo. A captive eagle used as a lure is seen to the right The trap was set by researcher Mike Lockhart. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service allows some wind farms to kill eagles under a government permit program. (Mike Lockhart via AP)

ROLLING HILLS, Wyo. (AP) — Criminal cases brought by U.S. wildlife officials for killing or harming protected bald and golden eagles dropped sharply in recent years, even as officials ramped up issuing permits that will allow wind energy companies to kill thousands of eagles without legal consequenc

FILE - A bald eagle flies over a partially frozen Des Moines River, Dec. 21, 2022, in Des Moines, Iowa. Federal and Arkansas state wildlife authorities are asking for the public's help in catching whoever might be responsible for the deaths of four bald eagles in Arkansas' Marion County in early 2023. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

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In this video screenshot from Minnesota’s EagleCam provided by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, an eagle flaps its wings as its nest starts to be blown away by strong winds in Ramsey County, Minn., Sunday, April 2, 2023. (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources via AP)

Viewers of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources EagleCam were heartbroken over the weekend.

Authorities received information in 2020 that Hugs was involved in trafficking golden eagle feathers, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement. A search of Hugs’ home in March 2021 resulted in the seizure of additional eagle tails and wings.

Hugs sold golden eagle tails for several hundred dollars each, the statement said. He also sold a set of golden eagle wings and a tail for $1,000, then shipped the feathers to South Dakota.

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