Louisiana's bald eagle population is on the rise

After nearly dying out in the 1970s, the bald eagle population in Louisiana is now soaring.

The state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said in a report last week that in southeast Louisiana, where a majority of bald eagles live, they discovered 264 active nests. Researchers also found that a higher percentage of nests had healthy baby chicks inside. Typically, bald eagles lay their eggs in November and December, with the chicks hatching by February. Chicks are nearly fully grown by 10 weeks, the department's non-game ornithologist Michael Seymour said, and at about 12 weeks, they're able to fly.

In the 1970s, there were only five to seven active nests in the state, and it's believed that one reason bald eagles have made a resurgence in Louisiana since then is because the pesticide DDT was banned in 1972.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up