How will we know that the population will not start to decline without the protections of the Endangered Species Act?
As required by the Endangered Species Act, the Service will monitor the species in cooperation with the states for a minimum of five years after delisting in order to evaluate the population after the protections of the ESA are lifted. If the population declines and the Service determines that the protections of the ESA are needed, the bald eagle can be relisted. The Service recently completed a pilot study in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey and several states to determine the best survey methodology for monitoring bald eagles after delisting. The Service anticipates that a draft bald eagle monitoring plan will be available for public review 2006.
