Does the new regulation allow for the purposeful killing of large numbers of bald and golden eagles?
No. This permit does not create any new authorization for purposeful killing of eagles, nor does it allow the take of large numbers of eagles. The Service conducted a cumulative impact analysis including all eagle permits, and all future take permits will be subject to regional take thresholds to ensure that eagle populations can support any take we allow. Q: Why are the proposed thresholds so much higher than the take authorized in the past? A: The proposed thresholds for bald eagles are higher than the amount of take authorized under the ESA because the bald eagle has recovered and been delisted, except for the Sonoran Desert population. The proposed thresholds for both eagles also are higher than the amount previously authorized under the Eagle Act, because the Service is now proposing to authorize take of eagles where the take is associated with, but is not the purpose of, the activity. Previously, authorization under the Eagle Act was limited to actions intending to purposefully t
