Provincial wildlife officials say they've found the remains of another 14 bald eagles in North Vancouver, bringing the total number of bird carcasses found in the area during the past three weeks to 40.

Earlier this month, 26 mutilated bald eagles were found near Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, just off the Dollarton Highway.




The latest discovery by an elder with the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, is about half a kilometre away from the first discovery.

And, as in the earlier case, the birds' talons, tail feathers and wing tips had been removed.

Rick Hahn says the new task force is focusing on illegal trade in eagle parts
Rick Hahn says the new task force is focusing on illegal trade in eagle parts

The provincial government is offering a $5,000 reward to find who's responsible. That doubles the $5,000 in rewards already being offered by the Tsleil-Waututh, the District of North Vancouver and the Humane Society of Canada.

B.C. conservation officers say they've formed a task force focused on the illegal, but profitable, trade in eagle parts to aboriginal people in the U.S.

"The eagle parts are generally used in First Nations cultural and ceremonial purposes throughout North America," says Rick Hahn, the head conservation officer for the South Coast.




Hahn also says in any one area the bird population may only number in the hundreds, and that 40 out of a few hundred is a major loss.

"Obviously that number of birds being taken out of one small area, if they're coming from one small area, will have an impact on that wintering population."

Hahn says more than a dozen tips have already come in, and that his officers are already interviewing people with information on the case.

Bald eagles are on Canada's protected species list.

Under B.C. law, a person convicted of poaching or trafficking in eagle parts could be fined as much as $50,000 for a first offence. Federal law is much tougher, with a fine of up to $150,000 and a five-year prison sentence.