After being threatened with extinction, the American bald eagle population has quadrupled since 2009 — a swift recovery that Martha Williams, deputy director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, calls "one of the most remarkable conservation success stories of all time," AP News reported . A report released Wednesday by The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated 316,700 individual bald eagles are living in the lower 48, including more than 71,400 nesting pairs. Scientists say the bald eagle’s return highlights the importance of decades of conservation efforts, The New York Times reported . "The strong return of this treasured bird reminds us of our nation’s shared resilience and the importance of being responsible stewards of our lands and waters that bind us together,″ Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said at her first public appearance since being sworn in as the first Native American cabinet secretary, AP News reported. In 1963, the bald eagle numbers were at an "all-time low" of 417 known nesting pairs, according to AP News. But after actions like banning the pesticide DDT and placing the national bird on the endangered species list, bald eagle populations grew. "The bald eagle has always been considered a sacred […]
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