SAVED FROM EXTINCTION
Bald eagles are a conservation success story.
They were almost extinct in the 1950s and 1960 due to the use of poisonous pesticides such as PCB and DDT.
Beginning in the 1970s, these pesticides were no longer allowed to be used. After that, the number of eagles has continued to grow.
In 2007, bald eagles were removed from the list of endangered species.
Wildlife biologists working for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have been monitoring bald eagles since 1961. They use airplanes for aerial surveys and ground crews to record scientific data.
Nesting pairs of eagles had dropped to a low of about 400 in 1963 in the United States (not counting Alaska).
They were almost extinct in the 1950s and 1960 due to the use of poisonous pesticides such as PCB and DDT.
Beginning in the 1970s, these pesticides were no longer allowed to be used. After that, the number of eagles has continued to grow.
In 2007, bald eagles were removed from the list of endangered species.
Wildlife biologists working for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have been monitoring bald eagles since 1961. They use airplanes for aerial surveys and ground crews to record scientific data.
Nesting pairs of eagles had dropped to a low of about 400 in 1963 in the United States (not counting Alaska).
Today, that number is up to about 10,000 nesting pairs!
STILL PROTECTED
Though no longer an endangered species, bald eagles are still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
It is illegal to take, purchase, sell, barter, offer to sell, purchase or barter, transport, export or import bald or golden eagles, alive or dead, including any part, nest, or egg. “Take” includes pursue, shoot, shoot at, poison, wound, kill, capture, trap, collect, or disturb.
