The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), one of North America's largest birds of prey with a wingspan of up to 7.5 ft (2.3 m), is a member of the family Accipitridae. Adult bald eagles are dark brown to black with a white head and tail; immature birds are dark brown with mottled white wings and are often mistaken for golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Bald eagles feed primarily on fish, but also eat rodents, other small mammals and carrion. The bald eagle is the national emblem for the United States, adopted as such in 1782 because of its fierce, independent appearance. This characterization is unfounded, however, as this species is usually rather timid.

Formerly occurring over most of North America, the bald eagle's range—particularly in the lower 48 states—had been drastically reduced by a variety of reasons. One being its exposure to DDT and related pesticides, which are magnified in...