Man admits to illegal eagle killing spree, black market sales

Travis John Branson, a resident of Washington state, is set to plead guilty to charges related to the killing of approximately 3,600 birds, including bald and golden eagles, on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. The birds were killed for their feathers and body parts, which Branson, alongside co-defendant Simon Paul, subsequently sold on the black market. Branson was apprehended by law enforcement officials on the reservation after selling two sets of golden eagle tail feathers for $650 in 2021. During the stop, officers discovered the feet and feathers of a golden eagle in his vehicle that he had shot near Polson, Montana.

The grand jury indictment reveals the persistence of illegal wildlife trafficking, particularly in eagle feathers, despite intensified efforts by law enforcement in the 2010s to curb such activities. The case against Branson and Paul sheds light on the ongoing black market trade and its impact on protected bird species.

Branson has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to charges of conspiracy, wildlife trafficking, and two counts of trafficking in federally protected birds. Upon sentencing, he could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This plea deal comes after a significant Fish and Wildlife Service investigation in the 2010s, which resulted in charges against 35 individuals and the recovery of numerous birds of prey.