DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - The Bush admin is removing protection from the Bald Eagle

**bensabath** · 07-02-2007, 05:28 PM

Here's what I sent my congresscritters:

I read that the US Fish and Wildlife Service is prepared to change the status of the Bald Eagle from "threatened" to de-listed. This is truly a great conservation success story, and a powerful reminder of what government, industry and citizens working together can achieve.

As a Floridian, I am very fortunate to be able to observe these graceful birds in their natural habitat. It is truly awe-inspiring to encounter one fishing in a lake, or circling overhead.

However, I am writing today with a concern about these magnificent birds.

With the de-listing of the Bald Eagle, it will lose the strong protections it presently enjoys under the Endangered Species Act. The birds will still be protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

In my opinion, the language in the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is not rigorous enough. The Act protects the Bald Eagle from being disturbed, but it defines the term as:

Disturb means to agitate or bother a
bald or golden eagle to the degree that
interferes with or interrupts normal
breeding, feeding, or sheltering habits,
causing injury, death, or nest
abandonment.

(50 CFR 22)

The problem here is that actual physical harm is required. I feel that the language currently under consideration by the Fish and Wildlife service is much stronger, in that it defines the term as including conduct likely to cause injury, death or nest abandonment.

I hope you will support and encourage the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to adopt this more stringent language to help protect the symbol of our nation.

07-02-2007, 05:28 PM	#17
bensabath Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 464 Senior Member	Here's what I sent my congresscritters: I read that the US Fish and Wildlife Service is prepared to change the status of the Bald Eagle from "threatened" to de-listed. This is truly a great conservation success story, and a powerful reminder of what government, industry and citizens working together can achieve. As a Floridian, I am very fortunate to be able to observe these graceful birds in their natural habitat. It is truly awe-inspiring to encounter one fishing in a lake, or circling overhead. However, I am writing today with a concern about these magnificent birds. With the de-listing of the Bald Eagle, it will lose the strong protections it presently enjoys under the Endangered Species Act. The birds will still be protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. In my opinion, the language in the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act is not rigorous enough. The Act protects the Bald Eagle from being disturbed, but it defines the term as: Disturb means to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to the degree that interferes with or interrupts normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering habits, causing injury, death, or nest abandonment. (50 CFR 22) The problem here is that actual physical harm is required. I feel that the language currently under consideration by the Fish and Wildlife service is much stronger, in that it defines the term as including conduct likely to cause injury, death or nest abandonment. I hope you will support and encourage the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to adopt this more stringent language to help protect the symbol of our nation.
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