A 72-year-old Necedah man drowned on Lake Petenwell after investigators say he went into the water trying to rescue an injured eagle. Deputies later found his body just offshore, and preliminary findings indicate he became tangled in underwater debris. Emergency crews also recovered fishing gear and eagle feathers near the scene.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office says a missing person report came in around 1 p.m. last Wednesday, after family members realized he was gone and could not reach him. Deputies found his locked vehicle at the Brown Deer Drive boat launch, FOX6 News Milwaukee reported. Relatives told authorities the man had been fishing the night before and had called the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and a raptor rescue facility about the injured bird, and both agencies told him they would respond the following morning. Deputies launched a search using drones, watercraft and teams on foot.
How deputies say it unfolded
Officials identified the victim as 72-year-old Robert Marti of Necedah and say he went home, then returned to Lake Petenwell to try once more to help the eagle, WMTV reported. Search crews located his body at about 6:15 p.m. on June 24, just offshore from the Brown Deer Drive boat launch. According to deputies, their preliminary investigation suggests Marti became stuck in submerged debris and drowned while he was in the water.
Evidence at the scene
Investigators found a large fishing net and eagle feathers close to Marti's body and noted that he was not wearing a life jacket, Wisconsin Public Radio reported. The presence of the net led officials to believe he may have been trying to use it to reach the injured bird from shore. Authorities did not immediately release any information about the eagle's condition.
Why wildlife experts warn against solo rescues
Wildlife officials generally caution the public not to attempt solo rescues of large raptors, both because of safety risks and because eagles are protected under federal law, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service notes. The agency and state wardens recommend calling state wildlife authorities or a licensed rehabilitator so trained responders can arrive with proper equipment. Trying to handle an injured eagle without the right gear can create hazardous conditions on the water and may unintentionally worsen the bird's injuries.
Investigation ongoing
The Adams County Sheriff's Office has shared its timeline and initial findings with local media and said the investigation remains open, WMTV reported. Petenwell Lake is a heavily used recreation spot roughly 100 miles northwest of Madison, and deputies have asked anyone who might have information about the incident to contact the sheriff's office.
