A shooter gunned down a bald eagle in Pennsylvania and could face heavy fines and years in prison for the offense, authorities said.

A state game warden found the mature eagle shot Thursday night near Hope Cemetery in Elk Creek Township, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said in a statement posted to Facebook.

While the bird of prey — heralded since 1782 as the national emblem of the United States — was removed from the endangered species list in 2007, it’s still protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act…