The bald eagle was nearly extinct in the continental U.S. by the late 20th century, but the population has since stabilized, primarily due to habitat protection and a ban on DDT, an insecticide that weakened the birds' eggs so much that the eagles could not produce viable offspring.

In June of 2007, after researchers measured 10,000 nesting pairs--up from 417 in 1963--the eagle was officially delisted as an endangered species. Strict protective measures are still in place; any intentional effort to kill or harm a bald eagle is a federal crime.