The Pennsylvania Game Commission on Monday asked the public's help in finding who shot and killed a bald eagle last week near Lehighton.

The white-headed raptor was shot Wednesday evening near Germans and Stone Mountain roads in East Penn Township, state wildlife conservation officer Joel Gibble said.

A witness heard the shot and found the wounded bird, which died a short time later. Gibble asked that anyone with information on the shooting contact the Game Commission at 610-926-3136.

East Penn residents said they were disheartened by the shooting.

"I cannot believe it," said Ann Marie Bonner of Stone Mountain Road. "That's a shame. I enjoyed seeing him fly over. He used to fly over all the time. It could have been more than one, but we thought it was just the one."

Bonner said she saw a wildlife officer investigating the shooting Saturday.

"It's upsetting," her husband, Michael, said.

For about three years, the bald eagle had been a common sight in the area, about 6 miles southwest of Lehighton, he said.

The bald eagle was designated an endangered species in 1967 but was taken off the endangered list in 2007. Other laws still prohibit shooting — or shooting at — bald eagles.

— Frank Warner