Bald eagles are present in North Carolina, having made a remarkable comeback in the state. Their resurgence highlights the impact of dedicated protection and habitat restoration initiatives.
Current Status and Recovery in North Carolina
Bald eagles faced a severe decline across North America, including North Carolina, largely due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT after World War II. This chemical accumulated in the food chain, causing eagles to lay eggs with thin shells that often broke during incubation, leading to reproductive failure. Habitat destruction and hunting also contributed to their diminishing numbers.
North Carolina’s breeding population of bald eagles crashed to zero pairs by 1984. To aid recovery, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission initiated a “hacking” program in 1982 at Lake Mattamuskeet, reintroducing 29 young eagles from 1983 to 1988. This effort, combined with the 1972 ban on DDT, allowed the population to increase. By 2004, the state had at least 60 active nesting territories. As of 2024, North Carolina is home to 192 bald eagle pairs, with a 2020 count estimating around 400 individual birds.
Key Habitats and Viewing Opportunities
Bald eagles primarily inhabit areas near large bodies of water, including lakes, major rivers, and the shorelines of sounds and bays. These environments provide their main food source: fish. They also require tall, isolated trees, such as living pines or cypresses, for perching and constructing their massive nests, which can be up to 8 feet wide and 20 feet deep.
North Carolina offers several locations to observe bald eagles. Lake Mattamuskeet in the coastal plain and Jordan Lake in the Piedmont are significant sites, with Jordan Lake hosting over 25 nests.
Other Viewing Locations
Falls Lake
Lake James
Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
When observing eagles, maintain a distance of 1,000 feet or more from nests to avoid disturbance.
Conservation and Protection
The continued presence of bald eagles in North Carolina is supported by various conservation measures and legal protections. Federally, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 prohibits the “taking” of bald or golden eagles, their parts, nests, or eggs without a permit, and this includes molesting or disturbing the birds. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act further protects migratory bird species, including eagles, their parts, nests, and eggs.
At the state level, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission actively monitors bald eagle nests through aerial and ground surveys. Biologists provide guidance to landowners on protecting nesting sites and collaborate with timber companies to manage logging operations near eagle habitats. The bald eagle is listed as a threatened species in North Carolina, and state law makes it illegal to injure, harass, possess, or remove a bald eagle or its nest. These combined efforts help ensure the ongoing recovery and stability of the bald eagle population in North Carolina.