JUNEAU -- A Juneau woman cited by Alaska Wildlife Troopers for tripping legally set traps says she found a mortally wounded bald eagle in two of the devices and sprung others to protect her dogs and other people.
Kathleen Adair tells KTOO-radio she was on Davies Creek Trail on Dec. 24 north of Juneau and found the eagle on the ground with both of its legs caught in traps.
She untangled the bird and carried it to the Juneau Raptor Center. The eagle was euthanized by a veterinarian.
Adair says she sprung a trap nearby that day and another three days later as she led a group hike.
Alaska Wildlife Trooper Sgt. Aaron Frenzel says freeing an eagle from a trap is not a violation but interfering with other traps is.