Bald eagles continue comeback

SANDUSKY — Bald eagles are continuing their comeback in Ohio. And many of them like to live in the Sandusky area. That's some of the news from a recent bald eagle survey announced by state officials. By the numbers After the Ohio Division of Wildlife asked for citizens to help with a midwinter survey, 715 bald eagles were counted in Ohio from Jan. 7-21. Counties with the most bald eagles were: • Delaware and Franklin counties with 26 eagles apiece • Erie County with 24 eagles Other local counties in the top 10 were Sandusky County with 20 and Huron County with 18. And state officials listing good places to see bald eagles named several local places, including Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve in the Huron area, Pickerel Creek Wildlife Area in Sandusky County and Magee Marsh Wildlife Area in Lucas and Ottawa counties. On the rise Ohio had only four nesting pairs of bald eagles in 1979, but the bird has staged a remarkable comeback in Ohio. "Ohio's bald eagle population has dramatically increased in recent years," explained a news release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. "A 2025 bald eagle nest census found 964 active nests in Ohio, a significant increase from the 707 nests found during the 2020 nest census. Nests were counted in 87 of Ohio's 88 counties in 2025." Eagles are doing well in much of the U.S., according to the American Eagle Foundation. "At the lowest recorded point (in 1963), there were only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. By 2007, that number had grown to 10,000, which prompted the removal of the bald eagle from the endangered species list. Estimates for the current number of bald eagle nesting pairs in the lower 48 states are now at 71,400," the organization states. "As of 2016, states with the largest population of nesting bald eagles are Alaska, Minnesota and Florida," the group noted. Bald eagles protected The U.S. celebrates its 250th birthday this year, so the national bird is getting renewed attention. Bald eagles are protected by federal and state laws. Anywhere in the U.S., "It is illegal to possess an eagle's feathers or any parts of an eagle unless you have a special federal and state permit to do so," the American Eagle Foundation states. Killing or capturing bald eagles and golden eagles is banned by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and people who violate the law can face hefty fines and prison time, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says. News stories show that's not an empty threat. For example, in 2024, a Montana man who killed large numbers of eagles was sentenced to a little less than four years in prison.