Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act

Photo of a bald eagle - Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Photo by Don Pfitzer

Photo of a golden eagle - Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

In 1782 the Continental Congress adopted the bald eagle as a national symbol. During the next one and a half centuries, the bald eagle was heavily hunted by sportsmen, taxidermists, fisherman, and farmers. In 1940, to prevent the species from becoming extinct, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act. The Act was extremely comprehensive, prohibiting the take, possession, sale, purchase, barter, or offer to sell, purchase, or barter, export or import of the bald eagle "at any time or in any manner."

In 1962, Congress amended the Eagle Act to cover golden eagles, a move that was partially an attempt to strengthen protection of bald eagles, since the latter were often killed by people mistaking them for golden eagles. The golden eagle, however, is accorded somewhat lighter protection under the Act than the bald eagle. Another 1962 amendment authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant permits to Native Americans for traditional religious use of eagles and eagle parts and feathers.

A summary of the Act can be found by following this link and the full text of the act can be found here^*.

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