Bald Eagle

While we do not have any Bald Eagles in our care, if you look up, you may see some soaring above our Drive-Thru Safari! Ottawa County has the largest population of Bald Eagles of any Ohio county.

The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the United States since 1782 and has been a symbol for native people far longer than that. While their name hints that these birds are bald, they just have white-feathered heads that shine compared to their brown body. Their name comes from the Old English word “balde,” meaning “white.”

The national bird almost went extinct due to habitat destruction, illegal hunting, and contamination of their food source. Conservation efforts and the banning of the food contaminant have allowed these birds to make a fantastic recovery with populations now on the rise.

Bald Eagles only eat meat, and they are excellent hunters. Their diet consists mostly of fish, but they will also eat rabbits, ducks, turtles, snakes and even roadkill. Bald Eagles have exceptional eyesight and can spot an animal from over a mile away!

Diet: Bald Eagles eat fish, frogs, small mammals, insects, carrion and even snakes.