LEXINGTON, Ky. – After nearing the brink of disappearing, the bald eagle has now reached record numbers in Kentucky and their numbers are growing in other states as well. While the birds are not a huge threat to livestock, poultry farmers should take precautions. 

 “There are more bald eagles in Kentucky than there ever has been,” said avian biologist Michael Patton of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “At one point we had just one nest in the entire state. Now, we estimate over 200 nests statewide.”

According to Patton, the eagle in Kentucky was listed as endangered after their numbers plummeted, mostly due to the pesticide DDT. Following a nationwide ban on DDT in 1972, multi-state programs helped reintroduce the eagles to Kentucky. DDT caused eggshell thinning, leading to reproductive failure and dramatic population declines.

 Between 2006 and 2019, Kentucky saw a 400 percent increase in nesting pairs, Patton said. Last year, Patton and his team surveyed Eastern Kentucky by helicopter, using GPS and binoculars to pinpoint nests, and found a 20 percent jump in nesting birds. Eagle population in the western part of Kentucky showed an increase as well.

 And not just in Kentucky. The eagle is making a comeback in Ohio, too. As of 2025, Ohio had 964 confirmed active bald eagle nests, making a significant recovery from a low of 707 nests in 2020. According to William Babb of Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Ottawa County saw the largest increase in eagles thus far, jumping from 46 active nests in 2012 to 112 in 2025, an increase of 66 new nests. Eagle nests have been reported in 87 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

“The ban on DDT and then improving water quality since that time has really led to this big resurgence of the eagle,” Babb said. “It’s great to see them and I know we have them in some urban areas now, too.”

 And in Indiana, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources reports that Indiana has over 350 active eagle nests as of 2024 and those numbers are increasing.

 

The increase in eagle sightings is good news for conservationists, but farmers may be more concerned. Some farmers report significant losses to eagle predation, while others argue that the impact is minimal.

Eagles rely on fish for 70 to 90 percent of their diet, often catching salmon, trout, catfish or herrings. They oftentimes steal fish from other birds like ospreys. They also eat carrion and some deaths attributed to eagles may be the result of the birds just chasing away other predators from an animal that was already dead. 

 Other birds also form part of the eagle’s diet. Eagles may hunt waterfowl, smaller birds, or injured birds during migration. According to Patton, bald eagles consume over 25 percent of their diet from birds when fish are less accessible.

Patton says eagles play a significant role in controlling pest populations that compete with livestock for food.  “Farmers can avoid conflicts with eagles by keeping newborn animals away from eagle nesting sites,” he said.

 Babb says there are ways for farmers to protect their livestock from bald eagles.

 “It is recommended to use strong fencing, secure livestock encloses, and consider using bald eagle decoys or reflective materials to deter them,” Babb said. “Additionally, using noise deterrents and keeping livestock in a barn or shed close to the home can help reduce the risk of bald eagle encounters. Eagles preying on small livestock is rare, but can occur. These instances are usually isolated and occur when other food sources are scarce.”

“Here at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife we’re tasked with monitoring the bald eagle population, but we’re at the point, unfortunately, where we can’t actually count all of the bald eagles statewide,” Patton said. “There’s just too many of them.”