The Bald Eagle, DDT, and the Endangered Species Act: Examining the Bald Eagle's Recovery in the Contiguous 48 States

Publication Date: July 2007

Publisher: Reason Foundation

Author(s): Brian Seasholes

Research Area: Environment

Type: Brief

Abstract:

As the national bird of the U.S., the bald eagle is the highest- profile species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). And the delisting, or removal, of the eagle from the endangered list is the highest-profile event in the ESA's history. However, the Endangered Species Act's role in recovering the eagle has been badly distorted. Furthermore, false and misleading claims about the ESA's role in the eagle's recovery are often made without any citations with which the claims can be substantiated. It is high time to examine factors that have contributed towards and detracted from the eagle's conservation and to do so with citations so information can be independently verified. The picture that emerges is that the ESA's role in conserving the bald eagle has been significantly overstated, the ESA may have done more harm than good, and there are a host of factors key to gaining a fuller picture of the eagle's conservation.