Defenders of Wildlife Celebrates the Recovery of the Bald Eagle

"The recovery of the bald eagle proves the important role the Endangered Species Act plays in protecting our nation's imperiled wildlife," said Jamie Rappaport Clark. 

Thanks to the protections provided by the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working in partnership with other federal, state and conservation organizations, was able to accelerate the pace of recovery.  Through captive-breeding programs, reintroduction efforts, vigorous law enforcement and habitat protection— including the designation of refuges and the protection of nest sites during the breeding season—the bald eagle has risen from a mere 417 nesting pairs in 1963 to 7,066 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states today.  These efforts, combined with the banning of the pesticide DDT by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1972, made the recovery of the bald eagle possible.

"The bald eagle is a true American success story," said Clark .  "The recovery of the bald eagle shows that when we join together as a community, we can make miracles happen."

As the U.S. FWS moves forward in its process to formally remove the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species, it will be important to put the proper tools in place to secure the future of our national symbol for generations to come.  That will include a long-term monitoring plan to ensure that bald eagle numbers do not significantly decline.  It will also be important for the southwestern states to continue to encourage bald eagle recovery where populations lag behind other regions. 

"Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, our children will have the opportunity to see a bald eagle fly overhead and will know that our nation is committed to carrying on a great wildlife legacy," said Clark . 

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Defenders of Wildlife is recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 490,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues.

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