Wish we could send you some. We have hundreds and hundreds of them. They are a big pain in the rear, and a major predator of wildlife. If you go visiting in Haines, Valdez, Seward, Homer, or just about anywhere on the coast, beware when walking your little yappy dog. Bald Eagles love yappy dogs. Have actually seen them fly down and grab a half grown Coyote, Swoop back up in the air, struggling for height. Then drop the Coyote to kill or injure it. Then it becomes lunch.
While fishing in the Gulkana River, have had Bald Eagles dive down and grab the King Salmon I had on the line. The Eagle would reach down and kill the fish, then drag it to shore. Fish was too big for the Eagle to fly with. Once on shore the Gulls would attack the Eagle and drive it off. My fish ended up feeding Gulls across the river.
During the summer I will take friends floating down Piledriver Slough, about two miles from my house. We will usually see three or four Bald Eagles each trip.
I remember back in the 50s when Eagles were put on the Endangered Species List. Eagle numbers were plummeting, due to the use of DDT. Eagles were eating mice and rodents that had eaten bugs killed by DDT. The DDT was ending up in the Eagles and causing the shells of the eggs to be too thin. This meant that none of the eggs were hatching. The eggs were either breaking when laid or during the nesting period. So all Eagles were put on the endangered list nation wide. Eagles in Alaska never had that problem.
Today we in Alaska are over loaded with Eagles. Recent studies on the decline of Dall Sheep have found that Golden Eagles are the number two predator on Dall Sheep Lambs during the spring lambing season. Bald Eagles are taking their share of Lambs as well. During the spring I see them on winter killed Moose and Caribou. I often find where Wolves have been able to sneak up on an Eagle and kill it. Eagle Feathers every where. Can not pick them up and bring them home, have to leave them in the field. A real shame.
Eagles have made such a recovery they need to be taken off the Endangered List. Yea, I know they are the NATIONAL BIRD, but so what. If Benjamin Franklin had of gotten his wish the Turkey would have been the National Bird. There is a point where it is ridiculous to let their numbers keep growing. Some areas of Alaska have reached that point. We need to at least let the Native Americans take them. Having Eagle feathers and parts is part of their religion. maybe a permit drawing hunt would work. Yea, I know I'm going to get a lot of heat on this, but there is limits and we are exceeding them up here.
One of the funniest cartoons I have seen, was an old lady holding one of those retractable leashes. The leash was going up, and her arms were stretched in that angle as well. the old man was following her with a cup of coffee in his hand. His only comment was, "Tighten the drag Ethel". A year or so ago I actually saw a photo of that very thing happening down in Valdez. A Bald Eagle had swooped down grabbed a yappy dog on a leash. The Bald Eagle flew off with the dog, jerking the woman down as the Eagle reached the end of the leash. Dog went to feed the Eaglets.
Can't get any of the photos to down load, but do a google search of "Bald Eagles on the Chilkat River", you will be surprised with the numbers of Bald Eagles there.
