General Information

Bald Eagles prefer to live near water and were abundant in Ohio up until 1970. At this time, the eagle population in Ohio and throughout the U.S. had declined due to a pesticide called DDT. DDT was being used for agricultural purposes and was building up in the environment and in small prey animals. When the Bald Eagles would eat these animals the DDT would, in turn, build up inside of them as well. Most of the eggs laid by these eagles were not viable and populations, therefore, began to decline. In 1972, DDT was banned and this gave Bald Eagle populations a chance to rebound. In 1979 there were only 4 nesting pairs of Bald Eagles in Ohio, but, due to the protection of their preferred habitat and nesting areas, there are more than 200 nesting pairs in the state today.

Meet Our Bald Eagles

Two bald eagles, Askate and George, reside in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden — Presented by KeyBank at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Average Lifespan

Wild: 15-20 years
Captive: 25-30 years

Fun Facts

• The Bald Eagle is both the national animal and the national bird of the United States of America.
• Bald Eagles do not acquire their white heads until they are sexually mature (at 4-5 years of age). Until then, they have a brown head with some white streaking.
• The feathers of Bald Eagles are considered sacred in many cultures and are central in many religious rituals. Native Americans believe that having an eagle feather gives them a special connection to God.
• Bald Eagles use the same nest season after season, continuously making additions to it. After years of additions the nests can measure up to eight feet wide and weigh up to a ton.
• Bald Eagles live on a diet of fish, small mammals, waterfowl and carrion.