According to court records, a man from Washington state is facing charges for aiding in the killing of over 3,000 birds, including eagles on a Native American reservation in Montana. He is accused of then unlawfully selling the birds’ bodies and feathers, and plans to plead guilty to charges of illegal trafficking of wildlife and other criminal offenses.

Prosecutors for the federal government state that Travis John Branson and a group of individuals were responsible for the deaths of approximately 3,600 birds over several years in what has been described as a “killing spree” on the Flathead Indian Reservation and other locations. The feathers and other body parts of eagles and other birds hold significant value in many Native American communities, often used in sacred rituals and powwows.

Branson, from Cusick, Washington, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors in which he will plead guilty to lesser charges, such as conspiracy, trafficking of wildlife, and two counts of illegally trafficking eagles. According to court papers filed on Tuesday, the specifics of how many birds he will confess to killing were not disclosed.

Another individual, Simon Paul from St. Ignatius, Montana, is still on the run following the issuance of an arrest warrant when he did not appear in court in early January. His lawyer, Dwight Schulte, refused to provide a statement on Tuesday.

The accused individuals are alleged to have participated in the illegal trade of eagle body parts on a covert market, which has been a persistent issue for officials in charge of protecting U.S. wildlife. A recent study by the government found that unlawful shootings are a primary contributing factor to the deaths of golden eagles.

According to information revealed in a separate case in South Dakota last year, immature golden eagle feathers are highly prized by tribes and a set of tail feathers from one of these birds can fetch hundreds of dollars. A Montana man was given a three year prison sentence for his involvement in this trafficking case.

In December, a grand jury charged two individuals with 15 counts of wrongdoing. According to the indictment, they collaborated with unidentified individuals to harm and slay birds, and also used a deceased deer to entice and murder an eagle on at least one occasion.

The number of eagles harmed and other bird species involved in the illegal activity between 2015 and 2021 has not been disclosed by authorities. The indictment listed 13 eagles and eagle parts that were reportedly traded by the defendants.

After his court appearance on January 8, Branson was released from custody. As part of his plea agreement, he could potentially face a lengthy prison sentence and significant monetary penalties. In addition, he would be required to fully compensate for any damages, even for charges that may be dropped as part of the agreement.

Branson did not respond to a message left at a publicly listed phone number for him. His attorney, Assistant Federal Defender Andrew Nelson, declined to comment on the agreement.

The indictment revealed that investigators found text messages where Branson and others informed buyers that he was actively acquiring eagle tail feathers for future sales, referring to it as a “killing spree.” Prosecutors identified Paul as the person responsible for shooting and shipping the eagles on behalf of Branson.

The national emblem of the United States is the bald eagle, which is highly revered by American Indians along with the golden eagle. It is against U.S. regulations for anyone to harm, disturb, or take the nests, eggs, or feathers of eagles without a permit. Even collecting feathers from the wild can be deemed illegal.

Native American tribes that have been officially acknowledged by the federal government can request permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to obtain a bald or golden eagle for religious reasons. Additionally, members of these tribes are able to apply for eagle feathers and other parts through the National Eagle Repository. However, there is currently a significant backlog of requests, leading eagle researchers to believe that an illegal market for eagle parts has emerged.

According to the owner of a Native American feather storage facility in Oklahoma, law enforcement should focus on prosecuting buyers of feathers rather than just traffickers in order to effectively disrupt the market.

Bill Voelker, who is a member of the Comanche Nation and also serves as the executive director of Sia: The Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative in Cyril, Oklahoma, emphasized the need for buyers to receive consequences. He believes that this is the most effective way to address the issue and reduce the harm done to birds.

Source: wral.com