Helping inform the public and local governments about current regulations and assistance available for situations involving bald eagles.Providing state permits and support for local wildlife rehabilitation facilities that care for injured bald eagles.Enforcing state and federal laws to protect bald eagles in conjunction with federal law enforcement agencies.The responsibilities of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have changed with the recovery of the bald eagle in our state. Assisting citizens with the disposition of eagle carcasses.Authorizing permits that allow eagles (alive or dead) to be used for purposes ranging from scientific collections to Native American religious ceremonies.Issuing federal permits that authorize the care of sick and injured eagles, and helping citizens locate a certified eagle rehabilitator if they find an injured eagle.Granting permits for activities that affect bald eagles, in accordance with federal regulations.Enforcing federal laws that protect bald eagles in conjunction with state law enforcement.USFWS’s key responsibilities for bald eagles include: General information about bald eagles is available on the agency’s website and its Bald Eagle Information Line (36).

Fish and Wildlife Service is the primary source of public information about the species in Washington state. The agency’s website provides additional guidance.Īs the lead management agency for bald eagles, the U.S. In those cases, the federal agency asks that people call the USFWS office in Redmond (42) as soon as possible. Report dead bald eagles: Federal wildlife managers also want to recover the carcasses of dead bald eagles, especially if they appear to have been shot, poisoned, or otherwise killed intentionally.Report injured bald eagles: If you find an injured bald eagle, you are encouraged to report it to a certified local eagle rehabilitator or to wildlife agencies listed on the USFWS website.Some county and city governments may also require self-certification of compliance with the national guidelines as a condition of issuing a local land use permit. Check permit requirements: While bald eagle recovery has reduced the need for special protections, some activities such as removing an eagle nest or possessing eagle feathers still require a federal permit.National guidelines issued by the USFWS recommend ways to avoid interfering with eagles while engaging in such activities as timber operations, construction projects and off-road vehicle use. Give eagles a wide berth: Federal and state laws prohibit killing, injuring, or disturbing bald and golden eagles without a permit.People can help to safeguard the species in several ways: While bald eagles are no longer classified as an endangered species, their future will nonetheless depend on human policies and activities. How the public can help protect bald eagles Current federal guidelines for activities that may affect bald eagles are posted on the USFWS website. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has the primary responsibility for managing bald eagles under the provisions of the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The bald eagle's current conservation listing in Washington is 'Protected - Other.' Though no longer on Washington's state endangered species list, bald eagles continue to be protected under federal law and remain a protected species in Washington state.

In 2016, WDFW recommended that the designation of sensitive status for bald eagles was no longer appropriate, and that the species be removed from Washington's list of endangered species. Protection measures allowed bald eagles to make an incredible recovery both within Washington as well as nationally, which led to its federal delisting in 2007. When the species was first listed as Endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1978, the primary reason for its imperiled status was due to the effects of chemical contaminants and, to a lesser extent, habitat loss. The recovery of bald eagle populations across North America is one of the great species recovery success stories in the United States. Photo by Mike Whiteman Eagle diving to catch fish at the surface of lake water

Monofilament recovery and recycling program.

Bald eagle island