Barb Hammes, volunteer, and Heidi Keuler, La Crosse FRO, observe and count eagles. - FWS photo by Jackie Rand

Heidi Keuler and volunteers, Barb Hammes and Jackie Rand, helped the La Crosse District of the Upper Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Refuge, during their annual eagle count on March 19. 

The three counted 73 bald eagles during their 25 mile road survey on the Minnesota side of Pool 8. 

The La Crosse District totals were 249 eagles for Pool 7 and 381 for Pool 8 for a total of 630 bald eagles. 

This year, some of the backwaters were still frozen and the Black River was too high to get a boat under the bridges so some areas were inaccessible for counting.  Last year there were 618 eagles counted in the La Crosse District.