The government of the Canton of Schwyz has formally denied allegations of a cover-up regarding the deaths of two poisoned golden eagles discovered in 2016 near Einsiedeln. Following a social media post from a former gamekeeper accusing officials of suppressing the incident, the State Chancellery stated that authorities conducted a thorough investigation, filed a complaint against unknown persons, and ultimately closed the case due to a lack of identifiable suspects.
Response to cover-up allegations
The Canton of Schwyz issued a media release rejecting the claim that the 2016 eagle poisoning was hidden from the public. Officials emphasized that the incident was documented by experts at the time and that the public prosecutor’s office launched an investigation. According to the State Chancellery, the case was eventually closed because investigators could not identify the perpetrators, a process they described as difficult in cases involving wildlife crimes.
Did You Know? The Canton of Schwyz explicitly stated that neither the Office for Forest and Nature, the Department of the Environment, nor any other cantonal body has ever used poisoned bait for any purpose.
Disputed details regarding the poisoning
The former gamekeeper’s social media post alleged that the eagles were killed by goat meat bait intended for wolves. However, the cantonal authorities stated that these claims remain unverified. During the 2016 investigation, officials could not determine the intended target of the poisoned bait or confirm that the bait was composed of goat meat.
Expert Insight: The friction between former officials and current government agencies often highlights the gap between field-level observations and the legal requirements for criminal prosecution. While the discovery of protected species like golden eagles triggers immediate administrative action, the evidentiary threshold for securing a conviction in cases of “unknown perpetrators” remains a significant hurdle for law enforcement.
Potential next steps
As the case has been officially closed for years, there is no active criminal investigation currently underway. However, given the public interest and the viral nature of the recent social media claims, it is possible that pressure for further transparency or a review of historical wildlife crime data may increase. Any future action would rely on the emergence of new, verifiable evidence, which authorities have not yet received.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the two golden eagles in 2016?
The two eagles were found poisoned in the Einsiedeln area in 2016. Authorities documented the incident and filed a complaint against unknown persons.
Why did the government close the investigation?
The public prosecutor’s office closed the case because they were unable to identify a perpetrator, which the State Chancellery noted is a common outcome in such investigations.
Was the poison intended for wolves?
This remains unconfirmed. According to the Canton of Schwyz, investigators could not determine what animal the bait was intended for or what specific ingredients were used.
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