Bald Eagles In Wisconsin - Management Guide for Landowners

Wisconsin's abundant lakes and streams provide habitat for a large population of breeding and wintering Bald Eagles. These eagles are a significant natural resource. Eagles are sensitive environmental indicators, and their management is an important wildlife conservation effort.

You can help the Bald Eagle.

As a private landowner whose property contains Bald Eagle nesting and roosting habitat, you have the privilege and opportunity to enhance Bald Eagle habitat in Wisconsin. This guide will help you learn more about the Bald Eagle and will suggest ways your property can be managed for both your needs and the needs of the Bald Eagle.

Why do Bald Eagles need help?

A drastic decline in nesting Bald Eagles and the young they produced took place throughout the country from the 1950s into the early 1970s.

This decline was caused by habitat destruction and a build-up of DDE, a form of the pesticide DDT, in the fish and birds the eagles feed on. As they consumed this contaminated prey, DDE accumulated in the eagles and caused them to lay thin-shelled eggs that would break before hatching. Another pesticide, dieldrin, also built up in the eagles' bodies and caused some to die.

Following the 1972 ban on the use of DDT and the ban on the use of dieldrin, the number of nesting pairs of Bald Eagles and the young they produce in Wisconsin have increased steadily. Bald Eagles now need your help to protect their dwindling nesting, roosting, and feeding habitat so that the comeback of this threatened species will continue. Guard against and limit the use of insecticide and pesticide sprays and fish toxicants that may affect the birds.

How many Bald Eagles are now in Wisconsin?

Bald Eagles are found here in all seasons. Wisconsin supports a substantial portion of our nation's breeding Bald Eagles - the third largest breeding population in the 48 contiguous states. In the spring of 2006, 1,150 pairs of Bald Eagles nested in the state.

Eagles from northern breeding populations migrate to our area, and adult eagles from our state remain here much of the year. In winter, eagles congregate near open water, especially at dams and power plants on the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers. Hundreds are counted on winter surveys.

Download the entire publication (opens in new window):

• National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines [exit DNR; PDF]

Information for this page was adapted with permission from the publication Bald Eagles in the Chesapeake: A Management Guide for Landowners - 1985 - National Wildlife Federation by the WI DNR in 1997.