National Eagle Repository
Stored: National Eagle Repository
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Law Enforcement |
| Top Organization | Department of the Interior |
| Creation Legislation | Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The National Eagle Repository receives, stores, and distributes bald and golden eagle remains to Native Americans for religious and cultural use. It aims to support tribal ceremonies while enforcing wildlife protection laws and aiding eagle conservation. |
| Program Start | 1972 |
| Initial Funding | Congressional appropriations |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
National Eagle Repository is a Department of the Interior initiative managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement that operates a unique facility at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, Colorado, processing over 2,500 deceased bald and golden eagles annually and distributing their parts and feathers to more than 6,000 enrolled members of federally recognized Native American tribes across the United States for religious and cultural ceremonies as of 2025.
Established in 1972, it fulfills over 2,000 requests yearly from a backlog of 8,900 applications, supporting tribal traditions like healing and naming ceremonies while providing eagle carcasses for scientific research, with 2025 efforts adapting to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) challenges through operational changes started in 2022.
Goals
- Distribute eagle remains to Native Americans for religious and cultural purposes.[1]
- Enforce wildlife laws under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
- Support eagle conservation through research and educational outreach.
Organization
The National Eagle Repository was sponsored by the Office of Law Enforcement within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Department of the Interior, located at 6550 Gateway Road, Commerce City, Colorado.[2] Funding came from Congressional appropriations, supporting a staff of specialists and volunteers processing eagles, managing a permit system via GrantSolutions since October 1, 2021, and collaborating with state agencies, tribes, and conservation groups across eight USFWS regions.
The leader at the Department of the Interior level was the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, currently Martha Williams (as of February 20, 2025), with the Repository directly overseen by the Chief of Law Enforcement.
History
The National Eagle Repository was established in 1972 under the authority of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940, amended in 1962, to address Native American access to eagle feathers post-protection laws, initially operating out of Pocatello, Idaho.[3] It moved to Ashland, Oregon, in the 1980s, then to Commerce City, Colorado, in 1995, growing to process 2,500+ eagles annually by 2025, with milestones like a 1994 Clinton memorandum mandating eagle transfers and a 2021 permit processing shift, adapting to HPAI with 2022 freezer upgrades.
Funding
Initial funding in 1972 came from Congressional appropriations, with unspecified startup amounts supporting early operations.[4] Funding began in 1972 and continues within USFWS’s $74.6 million FY 2023 budget (Migratory Bird Program allocation), supporting over 2,000 annual distributions, with no end date as appropriations sustain efforts like 2025’s $500,000 HPAI-related upgrades.
Implementation
The program was implemented by receiving deceased eagles from wildlife officials, evaluating them for distribution, and shipping parts to permit holders via a first-come, first-served system, managing a backlog of 8,900 requests.[5] It operates continuously with no end date, adapting to HPAI with 2022 safety protocols, supporting over 300 tribes and scientific studies with 2025 efforts enhancing permit efficiency.
Related
External links
- https://www.fws.gov/national-eagle-repository
- https://www.fws.gov/program/migratory-birds - Migratory Bird Program
- https://www.doi.gov/ - Department of the Interior Overview
- wikipedia:National Eagle Repository
Social media
References
- ↑ "National Eagle Repository Overview," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/national-eagle-repository, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "National Eagle Repository Contact," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/national-eagle-repository/contact-us, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "National Eagle Repository History," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/national-eagle-repository/about-us, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "USFWS Budget," U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.doi.gov/budget, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "National Eagle Repository Services," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/national-eagle-repository/what-we-do, accessed February 19, 2025.