Bald Eagle Population in Indiana Reaches Highest Levels in Over a Century as Nesting Territories Pass 350

INDIANA — Bald eagles, once nearly wiped out across Indiana due to pesticide exposure and habitat loss, have made one of the state’s most remarkable wildlife recoveries. According to long-term data and mapping from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Indiana now has more than 350 active bald eagle nesting territories, a dramatic increase from only five confirmed nests in 1991.

From Near Extinction to Statewide Recovery

In the 1970s, bald eagles were considered heavily endangered in Indiana. The population collapse was tied to the widespread use of DDT pesticides, which caused reproductive failure and thinned eggshells. Habitat destruction further accelerated their decline. By the early 1980s, bald eagles had disappeared almost entirely from the state.

Reintroduction Efforts That Laid the Foundation

Between 1985 and 1989, the Indiana DNR launched an ambitious restoration project, releasing 73 young bald eagles at Monroe Lake. This effort aimed to rebuild a nesting population after decades without a successful recorded nest.

Just two years after the releases, in 1991, Indiana documented its first modern nesting success:

• Monroe Lake
• Cagles Mill Lake

These were the first confirmed successful nests in the state since the late 1800s.

Expansion From Five Nests to Hundreds

In 1991, wildlife biologists confirmed only five nesting territories statewide. Fast forward to today, and Indiana has over 350 nesting territories, a number that continues to grow each year. While the map referenced in the report was last updated in 2020, DNR officials note that many additional nesting areas have likely formed since then, especially in habitats along rivers, lakes, and forested wetland corridors.

A “nesting territory” represents an area where bald eagles regularly nest, and does not represent just a single sighting or isolated nest. Many territories support multiple active nests year after year.

Recovery Driven by Conservation and Cleaner Habitats

Experts credit the recovery to several factors:

• The nationwide ban on DDT
• Strong wildlife protection laws
• Restoration of suitable habitats
• Public reporting and monitoring of nests
• Continued DNR conservation initiatives

Bald eagles can now be found across nearly every part of Indiana — from Evansville and Vincennes in the south to Fort Wayne, Lafayette, and Gary in the north.

A Thriving Species That Once Nearly Disappeared

Indiana’s bald eagle comeback is considered one of the state’s most successful wildlife recovery stories. Hundreds of birds now nest, hunt, and raise young across all regions, demonstrating the long-term impact of conservation.

Residents are encouraged to observe bald eagles from a distance and report new nesting activity to the DNR. For more information on bald eagles in Indiana, visit the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website. For more wildlife coverage, regional updates, and breaking environmental stories, visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.