BEDFORD — No other wildlife species represents freedom quite like the bald eagle, but before the inception of a groundbreaking conservation program four decades ago, not a single active eagle nest could be found anywhere in the Hoosier State. Today, the majestic bird has made a historic comeback, with hundreds of nesting territories dotting the landscape.
Historically, habitat loss, over-hunting, and the widespread agricultural use of the pesticide DDT pushed the bald eagle dangerously close to extinction across the lower 48 states. In Indiana, the species was completely extirpated as a breeding population by 1900.
To reverse this century-long absence, the Indiana Nongame & Endangered Wildlife Program launched the state’s first-ever endangered species restoration project: the Bald Eagle Reintroduction Program. From 1985 through 1989, state biologists obtained 73 young, wild eaglets from Alaska and Wisconsin.
The eaglets, aged roughly seven to eight weeks old, were brought to a 25-foot secluded “hack” tower located in a remote bay at Monroe Lake. Biologists meticulously monitored and hand-fed the birds every single day, keeping human contact to an absolute minimum. After five to six weeks at the tower, the young eagles reached 11 to 12 weeks of age—old enough to fledge (fly), hunt, and begin living independently in the wild.
This massive logistical and scientific undertaking was made possible exclusively through public contributions to the Indiana Nongame Wildlife Fund. Unlike standard agency programming, this fund relies on direct donations—often through a voluntary check-off option on the State of Indiana individual income tax forms.
To this day, the Nongame Wildlife Fund continues to provide the critical financial backbone for rare species conservation, field research, and reintroduction projects across Indiana, protecting vulnerable non-game animals and their shared habitats.
The long-term dividends of the 1980s reintroduction program have vastly exceeded initial biological expectations.
- First Nesting Milestones: The first successful modern eagle nesting in Indiana occurred in 1991. By 1998, active nests began spreading rapidly along major river corridors from Tippecanoe County all the way south to Posey County.
- Removal from Endangered Lists: Following exponential population growth, the bald eagle was officially removed from the federal endangered species list in 2007. Indiana followed suit in 2008, removing the bird from the state-endangered list.
- Thriving Statewide Presence: In 2020, after confirming that the state supported over 350 active nesting territories across nearly all 92 counties, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officially removed the bald eagle from its “species of special concern” list.
Thanks to those early conservation efforts and continued habitat management, folks across southern Indiana and the entire state now have the regular opportunity to look up and see these iconic, majestic raptors flying completely free in the wild.
Tips for Eagle Watching
For residents looking to spot eagles locally, birds are most heavily concentrated around major water systems, including Monroe Lake, Patoka Lake, and the East Fork of the White River. The DNR reminds citizen scientists and outdoor enthusiasts to always practice safe viewing by maintaining a distance of at least 330 feet—roughly the length of a football field—from any active nest to avoid disturbing breeding pairs.
