Story: Owners, Bald Eagle May Fly off Endangered List, 06/13/07
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june07/eagle_6-13.html

Initiating Questions:

1. What does it mean when an animal is endangered or threatened?

2. What do you know about the bald eagle?

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. Why is the bald eagle in the news right now?

2. How many pairs of adult eagles exist in the United States? How does that differ from how many existed prior to the creation of the Endangered Species Act?

3. Why were eagles in such trouble before the ESA?

4. If the bald eagle is delisted how many years will it be monitored by the federal government? How does this compare to other species?

5. What federal laws will continue to protect the bald eagle if it is delisted?

6. Why must the federal government decide now whether to delist the eagle?

7. How has the environmental community reacted to possible eagle delisting?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What do you think? Should the federal government delist the bald eagle? Why or why not?

2. Look at the arguments of Edmund Contoski, who is prohibited from building on his land due to active eagle nests. Should he be allowed to disturb eagles on his property? How do you balance the rights of property owners with the need of the federal government to protect habitats?

3. Research other species that have been successfully delisted from the Endangered Species Act such as the Yellowstone grizzly bear and the peregrine falcon. Compare their delisting to the possible delisting of the bald eagle. How are they similar and different? Compare the habit of each species as well as the post-delisting management plan.

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of the topics in this exercise providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.