Success story: The bald eagle in Vermont
A pair of bald eagles in Barnet, Vermont. (VF&W Photo / John Hall)
Vermont, known for its dedication to the environment, got the ultimate confirmation this week that a majestic, and long-endangered animal within its borders has surged into a full recovery.
The state is ready to take the bald eagle off its endangered species list, as Vermont Public Radio reported this week. That's after 52 breeding pairs were reported in the area, which produced 64 chicks last year.
"So those were all-time highs. The population just keeps growing and growing," said Doug Morin, a state wildlife biologist, in an interview with VPR.
This bright spot in the state's conservation history grew out of a dark past. For decades, there were no bald eagles in Vermont. As VPR reported, hunting, pesticide poisoning and habitat loss pushed them to near-extinction. But the eagles have seen a steady recovery since 2008, when a breeding pair settled in the Green Mountains, Morin said. That's happened as the state has closely followed a recovery plan, which is the approach for all endangered species.
Morin, the bird project leader for the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, noted in the radio interview, “We can take it for what it is: as a real success. And species that go on the endangered species list should be able to be removed when they’re meeting their targets.”
The state's progress on another species, the peregrine falcon, was pointed out as another success story. The peregrine was removed from the state's endangered species list 15 years ago. Julie Moore, Vermont's secretary of natural resources, commented to VPR on the bald eagle's big news.
“It’s an exciting moment. And frankly, I look at this as building on the history we’ve had of successfully recovering birds in Vermont, including osprey and peregrine falcon and common loons,” she said in the interview.
It's encouraging to see Vermont continue to make strides in its environmental efforts — and a species reaching the point of going off the endangered list is an accomplishment to celebrate. But as the report by VPR's John Dillon states, the news about the bald eagle reminds us about the human impact on the environment. As success is realized, it's up to all of us to remain vigilant and do our part to care for the natural surroundings we all treasure. We can all play a role in lovingly sharing this precious world with all living things. As Wendell Berry famously wrote, "The earth is what we all have in common."
— Gareth Henderson
Click here to find out more about Vermont’s endangered species and related recovery plans.
