3-200-91 Frequently Asked Questions about an Eagle Disturbance Take Permit

Eagle Disturbance Specific Permit authorizes the take of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) or golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) by disturbance. “Disturb” means to agitate or bother a bald or golden eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available, (1) injury to an eagle, (2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or (3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior.

Specific permits are available for disturbance to bald eagles from activities that are not eligible for general permits, any activity that may result in disturbance to golden eagles, or disturbance of eagles caused by physical or functional elimination of all foraging area within a territory.

Eagle Disturbance General Permit authorizes the take of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by disturbance. Where disturb means to agitate or bother a bald eagle to a degree that causes, or is likely to cause, based on the best scientific information available, (1) injury to an eagle, (2) a decrease in its productivity, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or (3) nest abandonment, by substantially interfering with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior.

General permits are available for the disturbance of bald eagles when the disturbance will be a result of one or more of the following activities: building construction, linear infrastructure construction and maintenance, alteration of shorelines and water bodies, alteration of vegetation, motorized recreation, nonmotorized recreation, aircraft operation, prescribed burn prescribed burn
A prescribed burn is the controlled use of fire to restore wildlife habitat, reduce wildfire risk, or achieve other habitat management goals. We have been using prescribed burn techniques to improve species habitat since the 1930s.

Learn more about prescribed burn operations, and loud intermittent noises. General permits cover conducting the activity, as well as pre-construction work, including geotechnical work. Prescribed burning includes the footprint of the burn as well as where biproducts of the burn will be present, such as smoke, ash, or embers.

General permits are not available for nest disturbance within the reservation boundaries of federally recognized Tribes. This restriction does not apply when the Tribal government is the applicant for the permit on their own reservation land.