FEDERALSBURG, Md. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says at least six bald eagles were poisoned with an illegal pesticide. A total of 13 were found dead on a Caroline County farm back in February 2016. It is illegal to kill bald eagles in the U.S.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife says the eagles died through secondhand poisoning, likely from eating a raccoon that had ingested a banned substance called carbofuran.

Bob Edgell, the owner of the farm where the eagles were found, was the first to find the birds.

"I came out of my truck and right under my feet when I got out was this small clump of feathers," Edgell said. "And I looked to my right and there was another cluster of feathers."



After discovering four birds in total, Edgell decided to call for help.



According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the investigation lasted for six months before investigators decided to close the case due to a lack of evidence.

It's a head-scratcher for Edgell, who says he does not use carbofuran on any part of his farm.



The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it doesn't know where the raccoon was poisoned or how it happened.



But a spokesperson with the agency told WBOC: "Humans are involved in this and similar cases of eagle poisoning have been an issue since the 1980s."