LOUISVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating after an American bald eagle was found dead Monday in a yard in Blount County.

The homeowners said they returned home from an outing to find the eagle in their yard. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says there were no obvious signs of injury, but they believe it may have been struck by something or flew into something.

The homeowner contacted Zoo Knoxville, who in turn contacted bird rehabilitation group Upstate Birds of Prey.

The group took the eagle to a local veterinarian but the eagle had died. It has not yet been determined what will happen with its remains.

TWRA has turned the investigation over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. No other information is available.

The bald eagle was once on the list of threatened and endangered species.

As our national symbol, laws prohibit killing, selling or harming eagles, their nests, or eggs.