WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Annual golden eagle spotting yields favorable results

Annual golden eagle spotting yields favorable results

WABASHA, Minn. (KTTC) -- The National Eagle Center's Scott Mehus organized a day dedicated to spotting golden eagles eight years ago.

It's part of a partnership with several groups. Some believed the population could be declining. While this year more than 50 percent more eagles were spotted, he doesn't attribute it solely to an increase in the population but rather Saturday's favorable weather.

National Eagle Center's Education Director Scott Mehus says, "The observes then that are out on a good day like that are catching the numbers higher because the birds are in the sky and the observers are seeing them."

At one point in history the population was suffering.

Mehus says, "The golden eagle didn't go through the decline like the bald eagle."

The bald eagle's population was dropping to dangerously low levels because of DDT which caused egg shells to be too thin to house the offspring before hatching. Golden eagles were hunted by man, often because they were thought to attack ranchers' live stock.

Mehus says, "Hundreds and hundreds of golden eagles were shot, even by federal officials, because they were eating on lambs at one time."

For a long time it was believed golden eagles weren't even in our area, but it's quite the opposite.

Mehus says, "That's why I think it's important for us to get accurate data, so that we understand what's going on with the local population."

The annual survey is opening doors for organizations like the National Eagle Center to use their resources to protect and help raptors, including the golden eagle, to thrive.

Mehus explains, "125 golden eagles in this area is a pretty amazing number. So now that we know they're here we need to understand what their habitat needs are."