Posted on 05/15/2004 8:11:02 PM PDT by Libloather
Bush official: Bald eagle will be off threatened list this year
Last modified: May 15, 2004 6:28PM
By DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO -- The American bald eagle - the national symbol whose decline helped spur the Endangered Species Act and a ban on the pesticide DDT - will be off the threatened species list this year, a top Bush administration official promised Saturday.
Craig Manson, the administration's point man on the Endangered Species Act, agreed with a leading environmental group which said it's time to concentrate recovery efforts on other, more needy species.
The Interior Department will outline its plans this summer after taking public testimony on how best to safeguard the bird while recognizing that its population has significantly recovered, said Manson, the department's assistant secretary for fish and wildlife and parks.
"That species is our national icon, and even though it may be delisted under the ESA it would remain protected under the Bald Eagle Protection Act," Mason told The Associated Press in an interview. "It's no longer endangered, but it's still deserving of special protection."
Once common across North America, the bald eagle was reduced to just 417 known breeding pairs in the continental United States by 1963. Its habitat was being destroyed as the nation grew, ranchers shot it as a danger to sheep, and widespread use of pesticides after World War II thinned egg shells and caused a crash in the eagles' birth rate.
Recovery efforts began with the Bald Eagle Protection Act in 1940. By 1978, the bird was listed as endangered in 43 states and threatened in five others. In 1995, the species was reclassified as threatened throughout the lower 48 states.
Today there are more than 7,678 breeding pairs in the contiguous United States, leading the group Environmental Defense to call on President Bush this week to "make history" by removing the bird from the federal list.
The delisting process began 4 1/2 years ago, but is taking far longer than the typical year because the eagle's range is so wide. Nesting pairs must be recounted in each state, and the government's plan must take into account differing protections enacted by individual states.
The delay stretches back to the Clinton administration, Manson said, but earlier this year the administration began the final steps to complete the process by year's end.
"There were some legal issues that had to be worked out, we've worked them out, we figured out how to do it," Manson said before delivering the commencement address at the University of the Pacific's Continued 1 | 2 | Next >> Last modified: May 15. 2004 6:28PM
tagline LOL!!!
Whenever someone would be transferred in from the lower 48 we would warn them to keep their dogs and cats indoors. A lot of them didn't pay attention and would let Fluffy out...Eagle snack time.
True in most cases, Kong. But the eagles - geez - the gummint put aeries on top of all the power poles here in Florida, and the squirrels and pigeons are disappearing. Not fair for folks who need them as food.
BTW, welcome to FR, pal...............FRegards
I'm not sure, but I think there's actually a company somewhere that sells roadkill as a genuine food product.
Nice pics, Kevin! Thanks. Our Florida version is more like the Osprey, but just as loud and hungry..............FRegards
Actually when they got to looking, there were a lot of eagles that looked like normal eagles but by looking closely they could see that they were bald eagles doing a comb-over.
Hey Dave! Good to see ya, pal...
When the Muse hits, I go nuts, but you know that!
I liked my last one, though, and I'll probably use it again:
'It's tough dealing with Tourettes Syndrome, SO CUT ME SOME F**KING SLACK!!
At our next get-together, everybody brings their own blow-up bed and pillow - we got blankets - and their own fishin' rods - we got bait.
There must be an election comin' up - I'm gettin' a h*rd-on.................FRegards
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