Deadline draws near for eagle comment period

Residents have until close of business on Monday to comment on a proposal to remove the bald eagle from Maine’s list of protected species.

Biologists with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife say bald eagle populations have recovered to the point that they no longer merit inclusion on the state’s list of “threatened” species. There are now more than 470 pairs of nesting eagles in Maine, up from a few dozen in the late 1960s.

The Legislature must approve any addition to or deletion from the state’s list of threatened or endangered species.

The eagle was removed from the federal government’s list of threatened species last year. Delisting the eagle in Maine will lessen restrictions on some landowners, but will not eliminate all protections for the birds.

For instance, land with eagles’ nests would no longer be covered by the state’s “essential habitat” requirements.

“Essential habitat” designation requires that DIF&W conduct an additional review of certain projects that could “significantly alter the habitat or violate protection guidelines for the habitat.” Private landowners are affected by the essential-habitat provisions whenever they need a state or municipal permit for a project or when such projects are funded by the state or a municipality.

However, eagles still will be protected from capture and killing as well as disturbance during the critical breeding period by several federal laws. Because the eagle would be considered a “species of special concern,” the Maine Department of Environmental Protection would examine impacts on eagles by larger development projects.

DIF&W also plans to continue monitoring eagle populations for at least 20 years after delisting. Maine has permanently protected roughly 100 eagle nesting sites and partially protected 220 more, largely through cooperative agreements with landowners.

Comments should be sent to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Attn: Andrea Erskine, 41 SHS, 284 State St., Augusta 04333-0041. Comments also may be e-mailed to andrea.erskine@maine.gov.