WILSON, N.Y. — A 54-year-old man who killed three juvenile bald eagles after putting contaminated meat at the edge of his cornfield has pleaded guilty to a violation of the Bald and Gold Eagle Protection Act.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango said that in 2014, Kirk Canfield, 54, who operates a farm in Wilson, N.Y., placed a pile of meat that had been mixed with fly bait containing Methomyl at the edge of a cornfield in an attempt to kill coyotes. Instead, three juvenile bald eagles ate the contaminated meat and died.

The eagles were found Aug. 22, 2014, near the meat pile by someone riding an ATV who took pictures of the dead birds before Canfield removed them and got rid of the contaminated meat pile.

By placing the contaminated meat pile on his field, the defendant acted with wanton disregard for the consequences of his act, according to a release from U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr.’s office.

The plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott is the result of an investigation by special agents of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Honora Gordon and environmental conservation officers with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, a fine of $100,000 or both. 

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2.