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Written by GussHomer, Alaska, may be the one place on Earth where bald eagles rule, and some humans are beginning to feel endangered.
It is a place where the majestic symbol of America can be found on movie theaters, cars, and light posts; there are dozens at a time on rooftops. They sometimes collide with traffic and are accused of stealing pets out of yards.
Unlike the rest of the country, where the bald eagle nearly went extinct until recently (they’ve since been removed from the government’s Endangered Species Act), they have always been abundant in Alaska.
But it’s so bad in this coastal town, 110 miles from Anchorage, that some people have resorted to shooting bald eagles. “Yes, some people are doing it,” retired federal biologist Ed Bailey told ABC’s Neil Karlinsky.
Bailey said the eagle has become a town menace, but it’s an opinion 82-year-old Jean Keene, known around here as the “eagle lady,” does not share.
She feeds the nearly 15-pound birds raw fish every day during the winter and has seen the population grow from about five 20 years ago to a daily average of 150, sometimes hundreds more.
The eagles come to see her, and despite her town’s grievance with overcrowding she thinks it’s fine to encourage their arrival.
“If they’re fed in a safe place and the right kind of food, I see nothing wrong with it,” Keane said.
Pat Williams Says:
July 5th, 2007 at 4:13 amVisit Pat Williams
Ed Bailey is one of the few people in our town who hates bald eagles. Truth is, most of us love eagles here in Homer. And, we admire Jean Keene, the Eagle Lady. If you haven’t read the book about her, you can see a preview at: http://www.eaglelady.com
Sue Says:
July 5th, 2007 at 10:18 amVisit Sue
Thanks for the link Pat, and for visiting.
It is great to know that many of the residents of your town do not have the same attitude as Mr. Bailey. I hope Ms. Keene continues to enjoy much support.
Lee Mayhan Says:
December 6th, 2007 at 1:40 amVisit Lee Mayhan
As a resident of Homer MS. Williams does not speak for the community of Homer. Eagle baiting is illegal and Keene will be out in 2010. There were issues of public safety. Many area residents were concerned about the treatment of eagles by Keene and some of the photographers. Issues were raised about the impact of 500-600 eagles that she attracts from Nov. To April (6 months) in an area that use to have 2 eagles and what has been done on our state critical habitat area. Local residents have reported population decreases in local native birds since the start of her “feedings”. The State Alaska Audubon calls her place a “spectacle” but not meant in a nice way. Bailey wasn’t the only wildlife biologists or wildlife organization to oppose Keene’s eagle feeding. The list is long and Ms. Williams who says she lives in Homer apparently has a short memory.