Reward for information in whooping crane death rises to $10K

LYONS, Ind. (AP) - The reward for information in Indiana's recent fatal shooting of an endangered whooping crane has grown to $10,000.

The 5-year-old female crane was found dead Jan. 3 near the Goose Pond State Fish and Wildlife Area, apparently killed by a high-powered rifle.

WTHI-TV reports (http://bit.ly/2k1goyS ) local and national groups are now offering funds for information leading to an arrest in the rare bird's killing.

Operation Migration is offering $3,500 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Friends of Goose Pond are offering $2,500 apiece.

The International Crane Foundation and Indiana's Turn in a Poacher program have offered $1,500.

Whooping cranes are North America's tallest bird, standing 5 feet tall. Hunting and habitat loss cut their number to less than 20 in the 1940s, but that's grown to about 600.

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Information from: WTHI-TV, http://www.wthitv.com/