What We Do
Distribution of eagle remains, parts, and feathers to enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes
Native Americans have long used eagle remains, parts and feathers for religious and cultural purposes, including in ceremonies and as part of traditional regalia.
Recognizing the significance of eagles to Native Americans, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) established the National Eagle Repository (Repository) in the early 1970s to provide enrolled members of federal recognized Native American Tribes with the remains, parts, and feathers of bald and golden eagles for spiritual and religious use.
Contact Us:
Phone: (303) 287 2110
Email: repository@fws.gov
Mail: 6550 Gateway Road, Building 128, Commerce City, Colorado 80022
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Who is eligible to receive eagle remains, parts or feathers from the Repository?
Only enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to receive these remains from the Repository. Only enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes may privately possess the remains, parts, or feathers of bald and golden eagles per the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (50 CFR 22.60).
Can individuals who are not enrolled with federally recognized Native American Tribes, museums, or other institutions acquire eagle remains, parts or feathers from the Repository?
The Repository only issues eagle remains, parts and feathers to enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes.
Institutions or organizations eligible under a regulatory authorization (50 CFR 22.15) or valid permit (50 CFR 22.50) may possess eagle specimens for scientific or exhibition purposes.
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Submitting Applications for Eagle Remains, Parts and Feathers
What is the process for acquiring eagle remains, parts or feathers from the Repository?
For first time orders, applicants must:
- Complete Form 3-200-15a: Native American Religious Purposes Permit Application/Order Form.
- Have their Tribal Enrollment Office complete the section entitled “Certification of Enrollment in a U.S. Federally Recognized Tribe.
Submit all documents to the Repository.
The Repository processes all permit applications in the order they are received and, if approved, will issue a lifetime permit for the possession of eagle remains, parts and feathers from the Repository. Once a permit has been issued, the order will be placed in a queue for the relevant order category and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants may have only one pending order at a given time. Orders cannot be expedited.
For reorders, applicants must:
- Complete Form 3-200-15a: Native American Religious Purposes Permit Application/Order Form. Certification of Tribal Enrollment is not required for reorders.
Submit all documents to the Repository.
The Repository will notify applicants by mail that their reorder has been received. The order will be placed in a queue for the relevant order category and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants may have only one pending order at a given time. Orders cannot be expedited.
Where are blank applications available?
Blank applications can be found online via ePermits or in Our Library.
Applicants may also request a blank application be mailed to them by emailing the Repository at repository@fws.gov or calling (303) 287 2110.
How are completed applications returned?
Applications may be submitted online via ePermits.
Hard copy applications may be scanned and emailed to repository@fws.gov, or mailed to the Repository at:
National Eagle Repository
6550 Gateway Road, Building 128
Commerce City, Colorado
80022
How long does it take the Repository to fill orders?
Wait times vary by order category, age, and species.
Current wait times are available in Our Library or on our homepage.
Orders are updated at the beginning of each quarter (each January, April, July and October) and show the submission month and year of orders currently being filled. If your order was submitted after the date indicated on the current wait times, your order is not ready to fill. If your order was submitted before the date indicated on the current wait times, please contact us at repository@fws.gov or (303) 287 2110.
Wait times are determined by available inventory and may not change substantially from quarter to quarter.
Why are wait times for whole birds and for golden eagle remains, parts and feathers longer than wait times for other categories?
The Repository receives a far smaller number of deceased golden eagles than deceased bald eagles, and remains of eagles of all ages and species frequently show signs of injury, decomposition, damage, or contamination that render some parts unusable. The Repository utilizes all usable parts of each eagle received to maximize available inventory.
How can an applicant check the status of an existing order?
Consult the current wait times for the submission month and year of orders currently being filled. If your order was submitted after the date indicated on the current wait times, your order is not ready to fill. If your order was submitted before the date indicated on the current wait times, please contact us at repository@fws.gov or (303) 287 2110.
Applicants may also email the Repository at repository@fws.gov or call (303) 287 2110. Due to high call and email volume, we are typically unable to answer calls in real time and email response times may be delayed. Please include your full name, date of birth, permit number, order category (e.g., whole adult bald eagle), and a current phone number and email address in your voicemail and email message to help with the timely return of your message. If submitting a status check by email, please include “status check” in the subject line.
Our wait times are updated quarterly (each January, April, July and October). At this time, due to limited staff capacity, we can provide only one order status update per quarter. Repeat requests will not receive a response. Applicants should contact the Repository again at the beginning of the next quarter for a new update.
How can an applicant change their contact information?
Applicants who change their contact information, including their address, email address, or phone number should contact the Repository at repository@fws.gov or (303) 287 2110 to avoid any delay in receipt of their order.
How can an applicant change their order?
Applicants may change their order at any time and should contact the Repository at repository@fws.gov or (303) 287 2110. Updated orders will retain their original “received” date and wait times toward the updated order category will count from this date.
How are orders confirmed and shipped?
Applicants with orders that are ready to fill will be contacted by phone, email, or mailed letter. Voicemails, emails, and letters must be returned and the delivery address and date must be confirmed before an order can be shipped. If our contacts are not returned, orders will be marked as “waitlisted.” Waitlisted orders will not go to the bottom of the waiting list and will be filled upon contact with the applicant.
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Inventory and Orders
What can applicants request from the Repository?
The Repository currently accepts orders of the following parts from adult bald eagles, immature bald eagles, adult golden eagles, and immature golden eagles:
- Whole birds
- Wings, tails, or wing/tail sets
- Miscellaneous parts, including heads, a pair of talons, or a trunk
- 10 quality loose feathers
20 miscellaneous quality feathers
All remains, parts and feathers come from wild, deceased eagles and the condition, size, and coloration of the remains may vary.
What is included in an order of loose feathers?
10 quality feather orders include:
- 8 wing, 2 tail feathers.
Applicants may request the addition of a maximum of 2 plume feathers.
20 miscellaneous quality feather orders include:
- Mixed primary, secondary, tail and plume feathers. Applicants may request that all 20 feathers be plume feathers.
- Please note than miscellaneous quality feathers show signs of wear.
- Due to limited inventory, the Repository cannot customize loose feather orders to include feathers with a specific coloration or pattern, from a male or female eagle, or of a specific size. 10 quality feather orders cannot include more than 2 tail feathers, and 20 miscellaneous quality feather orders cannot include more than 4 tail feathers.
How will the eagle, parts, or feathers included in an order look?
The coloration, patterning and size of eagle remains, parts and feathers vary substantially between bald and golden eagles and between adult and immature birds of the same species. All remains, parts, and feathers received by the Repository come from wild deceased eagles and the condition, size, and coloration of the remains will vary.
Below is a general guide to the coloration and patterning seen in the plumage of adult and immature bald and golden eagles.
Adult Golden Eagles
- Primary (wing) feathers: solid dark brown or dark brown with lighter brown "barring"
- Secondary (wing) feathers: dark brown with lighter brown "barring"
- Tail feathers: dark brown with lighter brown "barring"
Plume feathers: white
Immature Golden Eagles
- Primary (wing) feathers: solid dark brown; white at the base with a darker tip.
- Secondary (wing) feathers: white at the base with a darker tip.
- Tail feathers: white at the base with a darker tip.
- Plume feathers: white
Plumage from immature golden eagles becomes progressively darker and more barred with each molt and will begin to show some barring in the dark feather tips after the first year. Because eagles molt and regrow their flights feathers one or two at a time, some feathers on the same bird may resemble "immature" plumage while some may resemble "adult" plumage.
Adult Bald Eagles
- Primary (wing) feathers: solid dark brown
- Secondary (wing) feathers: solid dark brown
- Tail feathers: white
- Plume feathers: white
Some adult bald eagles may retain a few dark brown spots or speckles on their white heads and tail feathers.
Immature Bald Eagles
- Primary (wing) feathers: "mottled" or "speckled" dark brown and white
- Secondary (wing) feathers: "mottled" or "speckled" dark brown and white
- Tail feathers: "mottled" or "speckled" dark brown and white
- Plume feathers: white
- Plumage from immature bald eagles becomes progressively less mottled with each molt. Because eagles molt and regrow their flights feathers one or two at a time, some feathers on the same bird may resemble "immature" plumage while some may resemble "adult" plumage.
Can orders be customized?
Due to limited inventory, the Repository cannot customize orders to include remains, parts or feathers with a specific coloration or pattern, from a male or female eagle or from a specific side of the body, or of a specific size, and cannot provide more than the total number of parts or feathers that exists on one whole bird.
To minimize wait times and to ensure applicants from all federally recognized Tribes have equal access to eagle remains, the Repository distributes remains, parts and feathers on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot reserve the remains, parts, or feathers from specific birds for individual applicants, applicants from specific areas, or applicants enrolled with specific Tribes.
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Order Returns and Exchanges
The Repository will accept the return or exchange of orders on a case by case basis and typically only under certain conditions, including:
- Orders sent to the applicant in error (e.g., eagle remains, parts, or feathers from a different order category, age, or species than requested and verified by the applicant).
- Orders damaged in transit to the applicant. The Repository is not responsible for damage incurred by a failure to collect remains from the delivery location in a timely manner or by a missed delivery. All orders require signatures upon delivery.
Applicants seeking a return or exchange of their order should contact the Repository at repository@fws.gov or (303) 287 2110 within 14 days of the date on the letter accompanying their order. Applicants will be asked to provide photographs of the condition of their order. The Repository will evaluate each request an advise each applicant on options for return or exchange. Remains may only be returned in their original condition.
Please note that due to limited inventory, the Repository cannot accept returns or exchanges from applicants dissatisfied with the color, size, or pattern of the remains received. All remains, parts and feathers come from wild, deceased eagles and the condition, size, and coloration of the remains may vary. Exchange of certain remains, parts, or feathers from order categories with especially limited inventory (e.g., whole immature golden eagles) may not be available.
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Ordering eagle remains and feathers from the National Eagle Repository for graduations and other ceremonies
Under the Department of Justice’s Morton Policy, enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes may give or loan the feathers or parts of federally protected birds, including bald and golden eagles, to other enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes, including as part of graduation, marriage, naming, and other ceremonies.
For school graduation ceremonies:
- Please apply at the beginning of the school year and no later than December of the current school year for spring ceremonies. The National Eagle Repository processes orders, including orders for graduation ceremonies, on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot expedite orders or guarantee receipt by a certain date. Orders received later in the school year may not be fulfilled by the ceremony date. Consult our current wait times for information about the month and year from which orders in each category are being processed.
- Orders of 20 miscellaneous feathers marked as being for graduation ceremonies will be fulfilled using a mix of secondary wing feathers and plumes. Applicants submitting these orders will be contacted by the Repository for further information about the quantity of each feather type required.
For other ceremonies:
Please apply well in advance of the date of your ceremony, if possible. The National Eagle Repository processes orders on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot expedite orders or guarantee receipt by a certain date. Consult our current wait times for information about the month and year from which orders in each category are being processed.
Please consult the above FAQ for further information.
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Ordering eagle remains and feathers from the National Eagle Repository while incarcerated
Enrolled members of federally recognized Native American Tribes who are 18 years of age or older are still eligible to receive eagle remains, parts and feathers from the Repository while incarcerated. The Repository can only provide what an incarcerated applicant’s correctional facility will allow. Incarcerated applicants must contact the facility chaplain/religious services coordinator before submitting an application to determine the quantity and type of items allowed. The Repository cannot “split” orders to have a portion of an incarcerated applicant’s order sent to a contact outside the facility, but can hold orders until an applicant’s release.
Incarcerated applicants are limited to one order per incarceration.
What is the process for acquiring eagle remains, parts or feathers from the Repository while incarcerated?
For first time orders, applicants must:
- Complete Form 3-200-15a: Native American Religious Purposes Permit Application/Order Form. Complete all fields requesting “inmate specific data.”
- Have their Tribal Enrollment Office complete the section entitled “Certification of Enrollment in a U.S. Federally Recognized Tribe.
Submit all documents to the Repository.
The Repository processes all permit applications in the order they are received and, if approved, will issue a lifetime permit for the possession of eagle remains, parts and feathers from the Repository. Once a permit has been issued, the order will be placed in a queue for the relevant order category and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants may have only one pending order at a given time. Orders cannot be expedited.
For reorders, applicants must:
- Complete Form 3-200-15a: Native American Religious Purposes Permit Application/Order Form. Complete all fields requesting “inmate specific data.” Certification of Tribal Enrollment is not required for reorders.
Submit all documents to the Repository.
The Repository will notify applicants by mail that their reorder has been received. The order will be placed in a queue for the relevant order category and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants may have only one pending order at a given time.
How should applicants notify the Repository of facility moves or releases?
Incarcerated applicants who move facilities or who are released should contact the Repository at repository@fws.gov or (303) 287 2110 to update their contact information. Applicants who move facilities should consult with the new facility’s chaplain/religious services coordinator about the new facility’s allowances for eagle feather possession.
Please consult the above FAQ for further information.
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Other needs
Applicants can contact the Repository for additional copies of their Native American Religious Use permit or for general information about the program.
Email: repository@fws.gov
Phone: (303) 287 2110
Mail:
National Eagle Repository
6550 Gateway Road, Building 128
Commerce City, Colorado
80022
Our Services
Shipping eagle remains to the National Eagle Repository
To request shipping labels and/or boxes to send eagle remains to the National Eagle Repository, please complete this form.
The National Eagle Repository (Repository) serves as the national collection and distribution point for the remains of deceased bald and golden eagles received by, salvaged by, or in the custody of Federal, Tribal, State, and local officials, members of the public (50 CFR 21.16), and permitted wildlife rehabilitation, education, and zoological facilities.
The following are guidelines to aid in the proper documentation, handling, packaging, and shipping of eagle remains to the Repository to ensure the remains arrive without damage and in the best possible condition.
Remains accepted by the Repository
Federal law requires that the remains of all deceased bald and golden eagles be sent to the Repository, with the exception of remains meeting the following criteria, which the Repository may refuse:
- Nestlings or fledglings (eagles with ten or more flight feathers still blood quills)
- Eagles without an intact beak, trachea and cloaca
- Eagles positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), West Nile Virus (WNV) or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (Triple E / EEE)
- Eagles known to have died from the consumption of anticoagulant rodenticides or aspergillosis.
The Repository will still accept eagles that have been euthanized, including with pentobarbital, that have tested high for lead, or that have not been tested for HPAI. These remains must be clearly marked as such. Toxicology reports are not required but if a report is completed, the results must be included. Please include any other relevant information with eagle remains, including date of salvage, suspected or known cause of death, location of salvage, et cetera.
The Repository does not accept any other species of bird.
Disposition of remains not accepted by the Repository
Remains that the Repository likely cannot accept may be transferred to institutions or organizations eligible under a regulatory authorization (50 CFR 22.15) or valid permit (50 CFR 22.50) to possess eagle specimens for scientific or exhibition purposes with written authorization from the National Eagle Repository. Please contact the Repository at repository@fws.gov or (303) 287 2110 for more information.
The Repository will only provide such authorization if the remains in question are first deemed unusable.
Remains may also be destroyed in accordance with local policies and procedures. Contact your local public health department or office for more information. Personal use is not authorized.
Safe collection and storage of eagle remains
The remains of deceased eagles and other wild animals should be handled with care and with the assumption that infectious diseases or toxins may be present.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including gloves, eye protection, and masks.
- Place each eagle in a sturdy plastic bag and tape or tie the bag closed to prevent leakage. Please use a bag large enough that the tail and wing feathers are not bent or damaged. Take care when bagging not to tie the bag too close to any feathers.
Place in a freezer as soon as possible. Keep remains frozen until shipment.
Packaging and Shipping
To request shipping labels and/or boxes to send eagle remains to the National Eagle Repository, please complete this form.
Due to the volume of requests received, current wait times for shipping boxes and/or labels are approximately eight weeks.
Preparing eagle remains for shipment:
- If not using boxes provided by the Repository, select a sturdy cardboard box large enough to accommodate the number of eagles being shipped and to allow adequate room for the length of the feathers. Please do not bend wing or tail feathers. Pack eagle remains tightly to prevent damage from shifting during transportation. If using plastic coolers, you must provide prepaid return labels.
- Double bag each eagle individually and place absorbent material like newspaper between the bag layers. Please do not use shredded paper.
- Ship eagles frozen. Do not include gel or ice packs as these may damage the remains.
- Please remove any medical devices like needles, catheters, or bandages.
- Ship via FedEx Express on any non-holiday Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
If any remains will arrive with paperwork that must be returned or must otherwise be evaluated promptly, please email the Repository the day you ship. We receive 3000+ eagles each year and many are not evaluated for several months following receipt.
Delivering eagle remains to the Repository
Parties in the local area may deliver eagle remains to the Repository with prior arrangement. Please contact us at repository@fws.gov to arrange for a delivery date and time. For fewer than 20 eagles, please contact us at least 72 hours before your desired delivery date and time. For deliveries including more than 20 eagles, please contact us at least a week in advance.
Due to limited freezer capacity, the Repository may decline to accept or delay acceptance of large numbers of eagles. Dropoff attempts without prior arrangement will be refused.
Tours and Education Programs
The National Eagle Repository and the National Wildlife Property Repository are served by an Education Program offering facility tours. Reservations are required and the facility is not open to walk-in visitors. All tours are offered free of charge.
- Members of the public not affiliated with any group or organization may register for "First Friday" public tours, occurring the first Friday of each month at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, with the exception of federal holidays.
- Organized groups (e.g. schools and universities, non-governmental organizations, etc.) can request private tours of our facility. These visits are available Monday through Friday, beginning no earlier than 10:00 AM and no later than 2:00 PM and dependent upon staff availability.
- We can accommodate approximately 20 people per tour group.
- Due to the sensitive nature of our facility, tours are not available to guests under 13 years of age.
- Tours last approximately 60 minutes and guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their tour's scheduled start time for a brief orientation.
Learn more about available options by emailing NEWPR_education@fws.gov or calling (303) 287 2110.