Smith Center ? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is looking into the death last month of a bald eagle in Smith County.

A landowner found the dead bird at 4 p.m. on New Year’s Day and called local authorities, who contacted fish and wildlife agents.

It’s a violation of federal law to kill any eagle. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the bird’s death contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s office of law enforcement.