Success Brings Changes in Bald Eagle Management with Federal Delisting in Wisconsin
August 8, 2007
With delisting of the Bald Eagle from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, this majestic bird became a symbol for an environmental victory in Wisconsin.
"The people of Wisconsin can again feel pride in their state’s leadership in the recovery of endangered species" stated Signe Holtz, Director of the Endangered Resource Program at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "Today, the recovery story is about the Bald Eagle, and prior to this was the removal of the gray wolf from the threatened list. These efforts don’t go un-noticed and as I work and communicate with my colleagues in other states, they consistently remark on the success we’ve had in bringing species back from the edge of extinction".
Today Wisconsin is home to 1,150 nesting pairs or 12% of the 9700 pairs estimated to be breeding in the lower 48 states. In fact, since 1975, Wisconsin has sent 215 eaglets to 10 other states to help increase the national eagle population. Wisconsin eagles have been released near the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. and in a Hudson River valley park in New York City.
There were many reasons why the Bald Eagle declined in numbers in Wisconsin, and problems causing the loss of eagles in our state mirrored those seen across the country. The pesticide DDT, found to be the main cause of the decline, was first banned by Wisconsin and later by the Federal government in 1972. By then, numbers of eagles in the state had declined to just 82 pairs and in1972, Bald Eagles were placed on the Wisconsin Endangered Species List and on the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Species list in 1973.
In 1986, a Department of Natural Resource Bald Eagle Recovery Plan was approved by the state Natural Resources Board, with the objective of increasing the self-sustaining population of Bald Eagles in Wisconsin to 360 breeding pairs by the year 2000. The recovery goal was exceeded in 1991, when 414 active pairs were located.
Bald Eagle recovery efforts in Wisconsin have been funded through programs such as the Adopt and Eagle Nest Program under which people, clubs or schools can adopt an eagle nest in Wisconsin. Other efforts to protect endangered, threatened and non-game species are funded through the state Endangered Resources Fund. People can also contribute through the Endangered Resource Check Off on state income tax forms, by direct donations to a project or through the purchase of Endangered Resources license plates.
With de-listing, eagles will be managed as a protected wild animal (NR 10.02) and federally under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Currently, there is no regulatory mechanism in place to permit "take"under the Eagle Act as there was under the Endangered Species Act. New proposed federal rules will not go into effect before June 5, 2008. In the meantime, any activity that results in a take of a Bald Eagle as defined by the Eagle Act will constitute a violation. Comments on the proposed rules governing take under the Eagle Act are due September 4, 2007.
To avoid violating the Eagle Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, please follow the national Bald Eagle Management Guidelines. These guidelines and the DNR’s own Bald Eagle management guidelines provide nonbinding guidance on how to avoid disturbing Bald Eagles.
US Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a 5-year post de-listing monitoring plan for the next 20 years starting in the winter of 2008 and spring of 2009. Comments on the proposed de-listing monitoring plan are due by October 9, 2007.
Related Material Available for Download:
If there are any questions on the proposed take rule and how to proceed during the interim period before the proposed rule is enacted, contact:
Joel Trick
920-866-1717, ext. 1737
