The Bald Eagle: An Endangered Species Success Story!
Published: February 6, 2025
On June 20, 1782, the Second Continental Congress selected the Bald Eagle as a U.S. National Symbol. The Bald Eagle has been a National symbol of pride and strength, earning its place on the seal of the United States. However, it was not until December 2024 when Public Law 118 - 206 was enacted amending Title 36, United States Code, officially designating the Bald Eagle as the National bird of the United States.
In 1940, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act prohibiting killing eagles or taking their eggs. This Act later became the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act . This Act led to the creation of rules governing the taking, possession, and transportation within as well as into and out of the United States of Bald Eagles (scientific species name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and Golden Eagles (scientific species name: Aquila chrysaetos), their parts, nests, and eggs for scientific, educational, religious and depredation control purposes. (50 CFR 22).
In the 1960s, the National Audubon Society's survey showed only 417 breeding pairs of eagles left in the lower 48 states. Scientists also discovered that DDT or Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, a pesticide that started being used in the 1960s, was also one of the culprits leading to the bird's extinction. In 1973, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of DDT, and Congress passed the Endangered Species Act* which gave further protection to many species that were near extinction. In 1994, the Bald Eagle's status was downgraded to a threatened species, and by 2007, they were taken off the endangered species list.
Even though it is still protected and no longer threatened for extinction, the Bald Eagle still faces many threats, including lead pollution from fishing weights, poisoning, and electrocution by power lines. Read how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works to manage and conserve both Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle populations.
Additional Resources
- See how the U.S. Forest Service’s volunteer monitoring efforts have helped with the successful comeback of these birds.
- Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) information to help children understand and appreciate the importance of endangered species.
- Learn some "Quick and Cool Facts about the Bald Eagle" on the National Park Service's website.
*This links to a Statute Compilation, which is a compilation of the public law, as amended, and is an unofficial document and should not be cited as legal evidence of the law. Learn more.