Wind farms responsible for at least 85 eagle deaths in last 15 years, maybe many more

Golden eagle

Wind farms have killed 85 eagles in 10 states over the past 15 years, with Wyoming and California reporting the most casualties, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists, Phil Taylor reports for Environment & Energy News. Eagles were killed at 32 wind facilities, with 13 in California being responsible for 27 deaths; seven in Wyoming had 29. "Six of the fatalities were bald eagles, which were killed in Iowa, Maryland and Wyoming," Taylor reports. Eighty percent, or 67, occurred during the past four years. Eagle deaths from wind farms violate federal law.

The study said that the numbers could substantially underestimate the actual number of eagles killed by wind-turbine blades, because monitoring and reporting are not rigorously enforced. "The study also did not include eagle deaths from the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area in California, where previous studies have estimated that as many as 75 eagles have been killed annually," Taylor reports. There are an estimated 30,000 golden eagles in the U.S.

"Wildlife advocates have criticized the Obama administration for failing to prosecute wind farms that kill eagles, which are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act," Taylor notes. "But the wind industry argues it has taken significant steps to avoid and mitigate harm to eagles and that mortality from turbines is 'far lower' than from other leading causes including lead poisoning, electrocutions from power lines, vehicle collisions, drowning in stock tanks and illegal shootings." (Read more)