Why is delisting from the federal Endangered Species Act taking so long?
Eagles are currently protected federally under the Endangered Species Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Act of 1940. They are also covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Lacey Acts that protect all migratory birds. Currently, the Endangered Species Act is the primary means by which bald eagles are protected. However, once the bald eagle is removed from the federal list of threatened or endangered species, the Bald and Golden Eagle Act will take precedence. Since this act is highly restrictive, the Fish and Wildlife Service is working to modify it to ensure that the protections afforded the bald eagle are consistent with a species recently removed from the federal threatened or endangered species list. Also, since the Endangered Species Act requires five years of monitoring after a species is removed from the list, the US Fish and Wildlife Service wants to have a monitoring plan in place. We hope that the South Dakota Bald Eagle Management Plan will help to expedite the del
