JJ and Shawna Johnson of Stewart sighted a bald eagle in western Webster County on Feb. 23, as seen in the accompanying photo.
Shawna Johnson said this was the second eagle she had seen in two months, the first being in Adaton near Oktibbeha County Lake. The Johnsons ask that people not harm the eagles as they are making a comeback in the area.
The national symbol was once in danger of extinction because of such factors as the thinning of egg shells attributed to the use of the pesticide DDT, widespread loss of suitable habitat, and legal and illegal hunting.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the bald eagle from the list of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act in 2007 after populations recovered.
However, the bird is still protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Both laws prohibit killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.
