Bald Eagle Management Guidelines & Conservation Measures

Determining Whether an Activity May Disturb Nesting Bald Eagles

On August 8, 2007, bald eagles were removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species and no longer receive Endangered Species Act protection. However, bald eagles remain protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act). The Eagle Act prohibits anyone from “taking" bald eagles. Among other actions, "take" includes disturbance of bald eagles. 

"Disturb" is the form of take that is most likely to occur and is the most ambiguous. Therefore, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prepared National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines. These Guidelines are voluntary and were prepared to help landowners, land managers and others meet the intent of the Eagle Act and avoid disturbing bald eagles.

This website steps you through the Bald Eagle Management Guidelines so that you can determine whether new or intermittent activities may disturb nesting bald eagles, and thus be in violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The step-by-step guidance on this website is specific to bald eagles in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Website Contents

• For recreational activities (hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, hunting) near an eagle nest, click here for voluntary measures that you can take to avoid disturbing nesting bald eagles and their young.

• For all other new or intermittent activities near an eagle nest, click here for Step-by-Step Guidance to Assist in Determining Whether Disturbance of Nesting Bald Eagles is Likely.

• If you are unfamiliar with bald eagle natural history, we suggest reading the Bald Eagle Natural History and Sensitivity Information.

• Concerned citizens, agencies, and others who desire to promote bald eagle conservation, click here for additional conservation measures to benefit bald eagles

• National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your local U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Field Office for assistance. 

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