THE GOLDEN EAGLE IN WYOMING 



THE Golden Eagle ranges throughout the mountainous parts (jf 

 the Northern Hemisphere. In North America it is now very 

 rare east oi the Rocky Mountains, Init from the Kockies 

 west to the Pacific, and north to Alaska, it is not unconnnon. hi the 

 mountains, the bird nests on cliffs, but on California it often builds in 

 trees, white oaks being fre(|uently chosen. 



Although the Golflen Eagle is powerful enougli to prove a dangerous 

 antagonist, it never attacks man, in spite of sensational stories to tlie con- 

 trary. Even when its nest is approached, the bird makes no attempt to 

 protect its young, Init either disappears entirely, or, calling, circles high 

 in the air. 



Eagles, like most raptorial birds, ne.«t early in the year. Tliey 

 usually lay but two eggs, which hatch after thirty-five days' incubation. 

 The young remain in the nest about two months. The natural f(Jod of 

 the Golden Eagle in the west consists chiefly of small mammals of various 

 kinds, such as prairie dogs, rabbits, scjuirrels, spermophiles and rats, 

 together with ducks, geese and grouse. Occasionally it takes a yoimg 

 deer or antelope. On the whole, however, under natural C(.)nditions, 

 the Golden Eagle is a beneficial bird because of the large number of 

 rodents it destroys. But where sheep have been introduced, the Golden 

 Eagle may become more or less injurious through its acquired lialiit of 

 preying on lambs. 



Four species of Eagles have been recordetl from America nortli of 

 Mexico. Of these the Gray Sea Eagle, an Old World sjDecies, is found 

 in this hemisphere only in Alaska; and the Harpy Eagle, a tropical 

 species, has been recorded but once, from Texas. This leaves virtually 

 only two North American species, the Golden and the Bald Eagle. 

 When the Bald Eagle is mature, with a white head and tail, the two 

 species are very unlike in color, liut before the Bald Eagle acf|uires its 

 distinctive marks, it bears a general resemblance to the Golden Eagle. 

 The latter, however, has the legs feathered to the toes, while in the 

 former the lower part of the "legs" (tarsi) is bare. 



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