Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act - Decline of The Bald and Golden Eagle Population

Decline of The Bald and Golden Eagle Population

With the introduction of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) as a widespread insecticide in the United States from 1940 to 1950 to control malaria, the bald eagle population decreased precipitously, falling to a low point of 487 nesting pairs in 1963. By this point, the detrimental effects of DDT had already been a causative factor in the decline of other bird populations, and public awareness was raised when Rachel Carson published her book Silent Spring in 1962. DDT alters the calcium metabolism of female birds, preventing them from creating a hard shell around the eggs they produce. This egg thinning led to a higher rate of egg loss due to cracks during incubation. Dead birds retained large amounts of DDT in their fatty tissues and gonads which may have caused the birds to become infertile. Moreover, small animals ate plants that were sprayed with other pesticides which were then eaten by the birds of prey.

More than 100,000 bald eagles were killed in Alaska from 1917 to 1953. Public awareness arose during this time, and many groups and individuals dedicated to make the conservation of eagles a national issue. The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland started to breed eagles in captivity to increase the population numbers. The goal was to breed enough birds to increase the population of bald eagles in areas where the population was declining and to re-introduce them in those areas where they had been wiped out completely. The center started breeding with one pair and began studying their behavior, functioning, and other areas to make this a successful rehabilitation program. In 1988, the program was stopped due to their success in increasing the number of eagles in the environment. At this time the bald eagles had started breeding naturally.

Although United States banned DDT in 1972, other factors played a role in the declining of Bald and Golden Eagles. Dieldrin and Polychlorinated biphenyl are pollutants in the environment that can also harm the eagles and their nesting area. These chemicals disperse and remain in the environment causing problems for these birds. Human activity is another reason for the declining of the Bald Eagles. In contrast, the Golden Eagle primarily eats rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, and other common prey which has allowed them to escape the harms of DDT and other related chemicals. Unlike the rupture of the bald eagle eggshells, the golden eagles shells retained their thickness. There was a known cause in the reproduction system due to the pesticide concentration in their blood stream.Additionally, power lines cause a frequent electrocution, which results in death for the majority of the eagle population. Electric Companies have been assisted by scientists and researchers to make power lines and poles a safe for the eagles.In the early 1970s, utility companies have designed poles to prevent eagle electrocutions. And some new power lines in nonurban areas have been built to "raptor-safe" construction standards. Native Americans have been killing Bald eagles for centuries for religious purposes. The goal of killing the eagle is to gather eagle feathers for religious ceremonies. The third reason of this declination is in most states, animal traps are set on the ground to kill untamed animals for fur. As animals are trapped, eagles become attracted to the bait and eventually are caught in the trap. Eagle's feet are a crucial role in food hunting and if trapped, the injured bird can starve and die before its foot heals. Another reason is duck and geese hunters who shoot from riffles and guns may actually kill bald eagles. In addition, hunters whom have shot and neglected ducks and geese are retrieved by eagles. This results in poisoning the eagle by the gunshots from the hunters. Lastly, majority of Farmers and rancher consider Bald and Golden Eagles a threat to their livestock's, and therefore shoot them.Primarily, the golden eagles were not affected by DDT, but rather in the change of diet. Unfortunately, many assumptions are made about the Bald and Golden Eagles, thinking they are a harmful. The two eagles seek for dead animals that are killed from other factors. Primarily, the golden eagles were not affected by DDT, but rather in the change of diet.

The measures that were taken to protect Bald and Golden Eagles such as the 1940 Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, banning of DDT in 1972, the Bald Eagle Endangered Species Act of 1973, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Program to phase out the use to lead shot for waterfowl hunting of 1992, all helped upgrade their status from 'endangered' to 'threatened'.