- William Custis Smith of Hallwood, Virginia, admitted to killing over 20 raptors, including bald eagles.
- He used pole traps and a banned pesticide, carbofuran, to poison fish and kill predatory birds.
- Smith was sentenced to one day in jail, community service, and nearly $10,000 in fines.
- The case was prosecuted under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
A Virginia man has pleaded guilty in federal court to killing more than 20 raptors, including bald eagles, using a deadly combination of illegal traps and a banned neurotoxic pesticide, federal and state officials confirmed this week.
According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), William Custis Smith of Hallwood admitted to using pole traps and the banned pesticide carbofuran—sold under the trade name Furadan—to target hawks and eagles he believed were threatening his waterfowl impoundment during hunting season.
Investigation Uncovered Multiple Raptor Carcasses
The case came to light during the 2023–24 waterfowl season, when Conservation Police Master Officer Brian Bratton received a tip about illegal trapping activity on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Bratton, with support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), located several bird carcasses and traps on Smith’s property.
“He’s a big duck hunter and wanted to attract more waterfowl,” Bratton said, explaining the motive behind Smith’s actions. “But he was fully aware it was illegal.”
Bratton and federal agents found a pole trap, a juvenile bald eagle carcass, and fish baited with poison. Lab tests confirmed the birds had ingested carbofuran, a pesticide banned in the United States due to its high toxicity to wildlife.
Smith Admitted to Killing 20+ Raptors
When interviewed, Smith reportedly admitted to killing more than 20 birds of prey—both juvenile and mature—including bald eagles and red-shouldered hawks. He also voluntarily surrendered a can of carbofuran during the investigation.
According to the DWR, Smith confessed that he believed hawks and eagles were scaring away ducks from his impoundment, which he had developed to improve his waterfowl hunting.
Legal Consequences Under Federal Law
Smith was prosecuted under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which prohibits the taking, possession, or killing of bald and golden eagles. He pled guilty in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia in March 2025.
The court sentenced Smith to one day in jail, 50 hours of community service, two years of probation, and a $10,000 fine.
This case underscores growing concern among wildlife officials about illegal measures taken by landowners and hunters to eliminate predators, despite robust federal protections for birds of prey.
(with inputs from Virginia DWR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
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