Bald Eagle
Permit Regulations:
Permits for disturbing or harming bald or golden eagles or removing their nests.
News Release (Sept. 10, 2009)
Questions and Answers on New Regulations to “Take” Eagles
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Bald Eagle website - more information about the permit regulations and permit application forms
For Endangered Species Act Permit-holders: regulations that provide two mechanisms to authorize take under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) by people who have been authorized under the Endangered Species Act to take bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Federal Register Notice: Authorizations Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for Take of Eagles (May 20, 2008) - 10-page PDF
Bald Eagle Recovered and Delisted
On August 9, 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. After nearly disappearing from most of the United States decades ago, the bald eagle is now flourishing across the nation and no longer needs the protection of the Endangered Species Act.
The two main factors that led to the recovery of the bald eagle were the banning of the pesticide DDT and habitat protection afforded by the Endangered Species Act for nesting sites and important feeding and roost sites. This recovery could not have been accomplished without the support and cooperation of many private and public landowners.
Bald Eagle Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan
To ensure that eagles continue to thrive, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will work with state wildlife agencies to monitor eagles for at least five years (we are recemmending 20 years). If it appears that bald eagles again need the protection of the Endangered Species Act, the Service can propose to relist the species. The Service opened a 90-day public comment period on July 9, 2007 for the draft post-delisting monitoring plan. We have evaluated comments on the plan and will soon release the final Bald Eagle Monitoring Plan
Current Legal Protections for Bald Eagles
Even though they are delisted, bald eagles are still protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. These Acts require some measures to continue to prevent bald eagle "take" resulting from human activities. The three actions described below pertain to implementation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
1) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized modifications to a regulatory definition of "disturb" under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act).
2) The Service released the final National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines which provide guidance to the public on how to prevent impacts to bald eagles that could violate the Eagle Act.
3) On June 5, 2007, the Service opened a 90-day public comment period on a proposal to create a permit program (pdf) to authorize limited “take” of bald and golden eagles where the "take" is associated with, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities. The comment period closed on September 4, 2007.
Follow the links to the
left for information about bald eagle life history, population,
photos, and more.
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