Home » Travel » Wisconsin » Eagle Watching

Eagle Watching

© Peggy Hoehne

Eagle Watching

The Bald Eagle once nested in forty-five of the lower forty-eight states. As more people arrived, the eagle population dwindled. Habitation and food became harder for the eagles to find. In the 1940s and 50s DDT and other pesticides further decimated the eagle population. The eagles ingested the pesticides along with the small mammals they feed upon.

[iBaldEagle.txt] DDT caused a thinning of the egg shells so that many eggs never hatched. It is believed large quantities of DDT caused infertility in male eagles. By the 1960s and 70s, eagles were being placed on the endangered species lists. In 1970, Wisconsin had 82 pair of eagles.

The Bald Eagle has been making a very successful comeback in the years since DTT was banned and the eagle was placed on the endangered species list. In 1995, the eagle's status in the lower forty-eight states was upgraded to 'threatened'. The Bald Eagle is among only a very few species to fight their way back from the endangered species list. In 1997, Wisconsin happily reported 645 pairs. Occupied eagle nests were reported in 51 of Wisconsin's 72 counties and their numbers continue to slowly increase.

The bald eagle is protected by both state and federal laws. Even though its status has been upgraded from endangered to threatened, the eagles still receive the same protection as other listed species. Even with its protected status, the eagles face dangers. Sometimes the eagles become caught in traps intended for other animals or ingested poisoned meat placed out for coyotes. They are sometimes illegally shot by people who dislike birds of prey and see them as a danger to their livestock. Power lines can electrocute them; lead shot eaten by waterfowl can cause lead poisoning in the eagle if they in turn eat the waterfowl. Recently Wisconsin passed a law banning the use of lead shot. This should help eliminate lead poisoning in several species.

A fully grown bald eagle is an impressive sight. We get occasional visits each winter and I am always awed by how large they are floating over our heads or perched in a tree by our driveway. Their wingspan is often 7 foot and can reach 8 foot across. Females can be from 34-43 inches in length, while the males can be 30-35 inches. They will weigh from 8 - 14 pounds. They normally fly between 36 and 44 miles per hour, though they will reach speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour when diving.