Ceremonies - Closings

An Eagle Closing There are 48 kinds of eagles in the world. Only the Bald Eagle and the Golden Eagle breed in the United States Many Bald Eagles have been killed by hunters and trappers. There are now only about 15,000 left in the United States. Many people fear that the eagle will become extinct. In 1940 the Bald Eagle was protected by Federal laws, but not until 1962 were Federal laws protecting the Golden Eagle enacted. Before the laws were passed protecting them, many Eagles were killed by hunters from airplanes hired by ranchers in Texas. They feared they would kill their young lambs. However, Eagles feed mainly on fish, rodents and young mammals. They will occasionally kill a very small or weak lamb or calf. Ecologists believe that birds of prey are necessary to balance nature. The Eagle is such a beautiful, stately bird. Eagles have such a noble history, it would be sad to see them become extinct. We should protect them to enjoy for generations to come.