Bald eagle found dead near nest in Columbiana County

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has been called to Columbiana County Tuesday after an adult eagle was found dead in the area.

Birds Of Flight Sanctuary confirmed with 21 News that ODNR had made them aware of an adult eagle that was found dead on Buckeye Road in West Point on Tuesday.

21 News caught up with Mike Bader, a photographer who regularly visits the eagle's nest near Buckeye Road and found the eagle and reported it to ODNR, who is coming to retrieve the eagle.

ODNR tells 21 News the eagle had a puncture wound to the back of its head from either a talon or a beak.

According to a Facebook post from Bader in the group West Point, Ohio Eagles & Nest, ODNR told him that this likely happened because eagles are vulnerable to challenges from other eagles while nesting.

However, ODNR told 21 News that after further thought, it is also possible that the eagle was from that nest after all, but there is no way to know for sure because of other eagles that live in the area.

Bader said that a nesting eagle must feed itself and its young, maintain its nest and ward off intruders. This is when an eagle is at its weakest state.

Bader went on to say that this happened before to a pair of eagles on Lipply Road in Columbiana when a new came to the area killing one and injuring another.