A protected great blue heron died after being shot in the neck near Liberty Reservoir.
The heron was shot in the neck Wednesday while wading near the reservoir. It was brought to veterinarian Thomas Ryan by a fisherman who found it.
Mr. Ryan, who said he could not save the bird, said he believed the gunshot came from a small-caliber or pellet gun.
Killing a blue heron is a violation of federal law. Offenders may be fined up to $5,000 and sentenced to 6 months in prison. The herons are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
If caught, the perpetrators could face state and federal penalties, said Bob Graham, a spokesman for the Department of Natural Resources. State law allows a judge to determine the fine and jail sentence for someone convicted of killing a great blue heron.
FIRE
* Sykesville: Sykesville responded to a trash container fire in the 7300 block of Springfield Ave. at 3:07 a.m. Thursday. Units were out for 20 minutes. The early morning blaze is the latest of eight trash container fires in the Liberty Road and Mount Airy areas since Dec. 16, according to fire officials.