Bald Eagles No Longer Endangered

A national milestone for the nation's symbol The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service will remove the bald eagle from its list of threatened species today, marking a milestone in the recovery of the nation's symbol. The move will end decades of Endangered Species Act protections, but other laws and agreements hammered out over the course of years will ensure that the eagle remains protected by federal law. The bald eagle has undergone a remarkable recovery since it was nearly wiped out in the lower 48 states by hunting, habitat loss and pesticide poisoning. An aggressive program saw the eagle rebound over the course of decades, with primarily Alaskan and Canadian eagles reared and released in the lower 48 states. The Fish and Wildlife Service move has been expected for years, and was first proposed in 1999. For eight years, a bureaucratic battle has been waged by state wildlife experts, conservation groups and others to ensure that removing Endangered Species Act protections does not lead to a second decline of the species. High on their list of concerns was the potential loss of habitat protection that now preserves nesting and wintering sites for the majestic bird. Eagle-protection laws that pre-date the Endangered Species Act ensure that eagles can't be hunted, but says little about protection of wild habitats. The de-listing of the bald eagle is a conservation success story that environmental groups are highlighting in order to argue that the Endangered Species Act works. The act has long been under assault by developers, ranchers, private land rights advocates and others who see it as onerous and ineffective. Congress frequently debates changes to the law that, most times, would decrease the level of protection for endangered species. Rumors are afoot that the Bush Administration is planning on proposing its own changes to the act soon, according to a story in the June 28 USA Today. Related Stories Common Birds In Drastic Decline List Of 10 Common Birds In Decline Disease Attacks Birds At Backyard Feeders Tips For Preventing Disease At Backyard Feeders 'I Saw The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker' West Nile Virus Killing Backyard Birds Four Things You Can Do To Help The Birds