Protecting our Symbol of Freedom
 Moosehorn
is fortunate enough to provide the bald eagle with year-round habitat. We
are very proud to have several bald eagle families on the refuge.
The refuge received national attention when a pair took over an osprey
nesting platform along Rt. 1. They have been nesting there since
1991. A second pair of eagles has a nest on Bald Mountain. Both
nests are near large waterways where the eagles can search for fish, their
favorite food.
Both nests have successfully produced bald eagle chicks. Chicks take
4-5 years to reach adult plumage.
Back from the Brink of Extinction
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The bald eagle was placed on the Endangered Species List in 1978 due to
dramatic population declines. A major cause of its decline was the
pesticide DDT. |
DDT ran off of agricultural fields and into waterways where it was ingested
by fish. Small amounts of DDT in fish accumulated in the eagle’s
body. Trouble started when DDT caused the eagles to lay eggs that were too
fragile. The eggs would break underneath the adults.
Eagle populations have made a remarkable recovery due to the banning of DDT
and habitat protection. This led to the downgrading of their status from
"endangered" to "threatened" in 1995.
In 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to remove the bald eagle from
the endangered species list completely. The eagle would still be protected
by the Golden and Bald Eagle Act, Migratory Bird Act, and other refuge regulations. We are proud of
the bald eagle's success and are glad it is on its way to complete recovery.
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