Killing a symbol.

Byline: The Register-Guard

There are countless ways grim news can obscure the optimism that should greet a new day, but reading that someone in the Willamette Valley is deliberately poisoning bald eagles packs a double whammy.

These majestic raptors are, of course, the national symbol. Their image stirs a sense of freedom, patriotism and independence in most American hearts, regardless of political persuasion.

Bald eagles also are protected as a threatened species, a protection necessitated by the ravages of pesticide poisoning on the eagle population. Most biologists believe eagle deaths due to pesticides are underestimated, because many victims die undiscovered in remote areas. And, unlike the species killing them, bald eagles mate for life, aggravating the impact of an individual eagle's death.

Two birds, found dead last month near Harrisburg, appear to have been intentionally poisoned with Fenthion, a pesticide that is illegal everywhere in the United States except for two Florida counties, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said. That brings to 17 the number of bald eagles killed by pesticides in the Willamette Valley since 1991.

One disturbing common denominator in the suspicious deaths: 11 of the eagles have had sheep tissue in their stomachs along with the Fenthion. It's not legal to use Fenthion with sheep, nor is there any reason to do so, according to federal agents.

Someone may be trying to give Willamette Valley sheep ranchers a bad name. They should eagerly join with the Humane Society and the Audubon Society to boost the $4,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the killings.

If you have information about this case, or want to report the misuse of pesticides, call the Oregon State Police Wildlife Tip Line at [phone].