A potential poacher in Pennsylvania, accused of gunning down a beloved and federally protected bald eagle, has reportedly turned himself in to the authorities. His identity, however, remains undisclosed, which has created anxiety among local residents uncertain about whether formal charges have been brought forward.

The incident unfolded in Mount Pleasant Township, situated about 40 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. Police disseminated a surveillance photograph that captured a white SUV in close proximity to the location where the lifeless eagle was discovered near the Cherry Valley Dam.

Locals deeply cherished this specific bald eagle, one half of a duo that had made their home in the area. It was not uncommon to see binoculars lined up on window sills across the Cherry Valley Lakeview Estates as community members vigilantly kept an eye on the eagles, explained resident Linda Carnevali in a conversation with Fox News Digital.

“Everybody in the community has a pair of binoculars on the window sill in their kitchen, and we’re all very protective of all of our wildlife in our lake,” Carnevali said.

For nearly twenty years, according to Carnevali, the eagles were a familiar sight, except when they were tending to their young or their nest, in which case, one of them always stood guard.

“So you always knew when you only saw one of them that there were some babies around,” she noted. Community members confirmed the couple had just recently welcomed two new eaglets.

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In the aftermath of the heart-wrenching incident, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced that the suspect had come forward due to investigative leads and “admitted to all aspects of the crime.”

Still, the absence of a released name or charges has stoked the ire of the community.

Carnevali expressed her disappointment, saying, “We’re devastated that this would happen, and we don’t understand why somebody would do this,” Carnevali told Fox News Digital. “And… we don’t understand why this is so secretive.”

This event comes at a time when bald eagle populations across the country are showing promising signs of recovery, after their inclusion in the endangered species list decades ago, as per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

These majestic raptors, symbolic of American strength and freedom, still face several threats, such as habitat destruction, poaching, and contamination of their food supply through harmful chemicals and pesticides, as warned by federal officials.

In light of this incident, authorities remind birdwatchers to maintain a respectful distance of at least 100 yards from these magnificent birds to ensure their safety and continued recovery.