Eagle Management

Both bald eagles and golden eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). As part of implementing and enforcing these laws, the Service monitors the health of bald and golden eagle populations and in April 2016 issued a report titled “Bald and Golden Eagles: Status, trends, and estimation of sustainable take rates in the United States,” a compilation of the most current research on the population status and trends of bald and golden eagles. The report estimates population sizes, productivity, and survival rates; cumulative effects to local area populations; and effects of unauthorized take of golden eagles. ​ This report serves as the biological basis for the Service’s regulatory management framework.

 Bald and Golden Eagles: Status, trends, and estimation of sustainable take rates in the United States (Status Report) (3.6MB)

New Actions

On December 14, 2016, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a final rule revising the regulations for permits for incidental take of eagles and take of eagle nests.  The Service analyzed various alternative management options and rule revisions, including the final rule revisions, in a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS).

Among other revisions, the final rule addresses criteria for permit issuance, compensatory mitigation requirements, permit duration,​ and data​ ​standards​​ ​for​ ​submitting ​permit ​applications.

 Final Eagle Incidental Take and Eagle Nest Take Regulations

 Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement(3.9MB)

 Record of Decision(436KB)

FAQs

 News Release

For more information, visit the website for this rulemaking at  http://eagleruleprocess.org. These documents are also available on ​ www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS–R9–MB–2011–0094.

Past Actions

 Peer Review Plan: Proposed Revision to Nonpurposeful Take Regulations for Eagles(282.9KB)

 Eagle Permits; Revision to Regulations for Eagle Incidental Take and Take of Eagle Nests (Proposed Rule) (Proposed Rule)(1.1MB)

 Draft Programmmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Eagle Rules Revision (DPEIS) (6.4MB)

 Eagle Rule Revisions and Programmatic EIS: Stakeholder presentation, 5/4/2016 (620.3KB)

 Eagle Rule Revisions and Programmatic EIS: Presentation to tribes, 5/23 & 24. 2016 (724.8KB)

2014 Scoping Process on Eagle Management Objectives and Possible Changes to Eagle Permit Changes

In 2014, the Service published a Notice of Intent and held a series of public scoping meetings  on eagle management objectives and possible changes to the 2009 regulations for permits for nonpurposeful take of eagles (50 CFR 22.26) and eagle nests (50 CFR 22.27).

 Public Scoping information

 Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment of an Environmental Impact Statement

 Final Report on the Scoping Meetings (1.9MB)

The process to revise the eagle regulations began in April 2012, when the Service put forth an Advanced Notice of Rulemaking (ANPR) about permits for non-purposeful take of eagles. The  ANPR highlighted three issues on which the Service invited public comment: eagle population management objectives, compensatory mitigation and programmatic permit issuance criteria.

2012 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) Seeking Public Input On the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act Permit Program

Older Actions Related to the 2009 Eagle Rule Permit

Permits

Eagle Population Information

Last Updated: December 19, 2016