Advertisement Bald eagle population thriving in Ohio, one of nation’s biggest comeback stories Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Once nearly nonexistent in Ohio, the state's bald eagle population is now thriving.Our national symbol, the bald eagle displays many outstanding characteristics: exceptional vision, a striking appearance and a commanding presence.Sadly, by the latter half of the 20th century, the bald eagle was classified as an endangered species. Through the diligent efforts of wildlife biologists and a concerned public, the bald eagle population is coming back and is no longer on the federal endangered species list.Its federal and state status is now delisted, but it is still in a federal monitoring stage for five years.In 1979, only four breeding pairs of bald eagles were reported in Ohio, according to officials with the state's Department of Natural Resources.In 2019, a nesting survey revealed approximately 346 eagle nests within the state, with pairs producing an estimated 445 young -- showing unprecedented year-over-year growth, and a far cry from where the state was 40 years ago.What caused the initial decline in the first place?Habitat destruction and degradation, illegal shooting, and the contamination of its food source, due to use of the pesticide DDT, decimated the eagle population.The bald eagle's stronghold centered around marshes and large bodies of water. Wildlife experts said about 90 percent of wetland habitats across many Midwestern states have been lost as urban centers expand, meaning our nation's symbol of boundless freedom was running out of room."If there's not enough natural habitat, I would assume that their only option is to make a nest in an urban setting," biologist Dan Wood said.Wood said there is a way for man and eagle to live together. The key is remembering to respect the majesty of this amazing species -- from a distance.Habitat protection afforded by the Endangered Species Act, the federal government's banning of DDT and conservation actions taken by the American public helped bald eagles make a remarkable recovery across Ohio and the nation.The population within Ohio has been gradually increasing.In recent years, the breeding populating seemed to have stabilized, with only an average 5 percent increase from 2013 to 2017.But in 2018 and 2019, those numbers again soared. The past two years saw an unprecedented increase between 20 and 30 percent, wildlife officials said.The bald eagle population across the state is thriving, wildlife officials said, but there's still work to be done.Management by the division remains minimal, with primary duties including working with rehabilitators that help injured birds recover, and helping to enforce protective state and federal laws, such as the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.