Criminal cases for killing eagles decline as wind turbine dangers grow
Criminal cases brought by U.S. wildlife officials for killing or injuring protected eagles dropped sharply in recent years, despite growing concern that wind energy and other pressures are jeopardizing golden eagle populations
By MATTHEW BROWN and CAMILLE FASSETT
Published - May 17, 2023, 11:03 AM ET
Last Updated - Jun 21, 2023, 06:43 PM EDT
ROLLING HILLS, Wyo. (AP) — Criminal cases brought by U.S. wildlife officials for killing or injuring protected eagles dropped sharply in recent years, even as officials ramped up issuing permits that will allow wind energy companies to kill thousands of eagles without legal consequence.
The falloff in enforcement of eagle protection laws accelerated in the Trump administration and has continued under President Joe Biden, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service data obtained by The Associated Press.
The findings underscore a Biden administration dilemma: Confronting climate change through clean power development requires trade offs such as more dead birds from collisions with wind turbines.
