“At 7:38 am, he raised his head up, spread his wings out completely opened up, took his last breath and died,” Wisher said with sadness.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, just a short 40 years ago, the bald eagle was in danger of extinction mainly due to the use of DDT, but also due to poachers and other poisonous pesticides. DDT was banned and the bald eagle has slowly been making a comeback, not only across the United States but right here in Tri-County area. Nests are popping up regularly. Photos of bald eagles fill the Facebook pages of all ages of users.
The bald eagle has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782. It is found on the Great Seal, the Presidential Seal, on several coins and paper money, postage stamps and countless other places. The bald eagle conveys power and symbolizes freedom, courage, honesty and truthful principles.
In 1967, the bald eagle ended up on the Endangered Species List. Federal laws, such as the Bald Eagle Protection Act, protect the bald eagle and have led to the increase of the population. Populations have improved so much that the bald eagle was removed from the Endangered Species List in 2007.