Federal wildlife officials are investigating the removal of a bald eagle nest in Alabama, one that they issued a permit for. The tree and nest were removed by a land developer over the weekend of Nov. 15, which locals say housed a bonded pair of the large birds.
Along with the permit being investigated by the Fish and Wildlife Service, Hughston Homes of Georgia, the land developer, is also under investigation. Wildlife officials say it was the responsibility of the permit holder to confirm that the nest was empty before taking it down.
The agency had determined the removal wouldn’t interfere with the overall eagle population. For its part, the developer stated it followed guidance from the Fish and Wildlife Service in the removal, stating that they believed the “nest in question is likely an alternate nest” for the pair of bonded eagles.
Locals of Auburn say there’s more to the story. The City of Auburn released a statement, saying the City Council was disappointed by the removal.
Residents say an investigation isn’t enough, and the Fish and Wildlife Service should’ve never issued the permit in the first place. Local Auburn officials say that eagle activity was reported in the area of the nest as early as January 2021. However, the city didn’t take their protection into consideration in approving or denying the developer’s requested application.
According to the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, disturbing gold or bald eagles is criminal, and can result in a fine of up to $200,000, and even imprisonment.
