Populations on the Rise

The bald eagle population in Arizona is on an all-time high. Last reports in 2010 show that 104 adult breeding pairs live in Arizona. This profound success is at large as a result from the governmental ban of DDT on December 31, 1972. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species after 40 years of protection in 2007. The lowest amount of nesting pairs in the whole of the United States was 417 in 1963. By 2007, there were an estimated 9,789 breeding pairs.

Now that bald eagles are no longer considered endangered or threatened, new hunting permits are being cautiously being given out despite much criticism amongst conservationist groups. In Arizona specifically, conservationist groups sued to allow bald eagles more protection with no avail.

In March 2012, the North Arapaho Tribe received a permit to hunt for two bald eagles for religious purposes after filing a federal lawsuit for denied permits. This is a pivotal step for conservationist and repositories. New permits for religious purposes could decrease the demand and pressure off of the National Eagle Repository, yet conversely new permits could hurt the blossoming populations of bald eagles. It is all a give and take situation.

Sources: 

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/recovery/qandas.html

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/14/wyoming-native-american-tribe-gets-rare-permit-to-kill-bald-eagles/

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/09/28/20100928arizona-bald-eagle-population-gain.html

CG