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On this date in 1917, North Dakotans learned that golden eagles were sighted in the Sheyenne Valley. First noticed in 1915, the eagle population was growing. They were described as unusually large. The Hope Pioneer alerted readers to the eagles, even saying the Sheyenne Valley was becoming “infested” with them.
Golden eagles aren’t as common as bald eagles, but they do inhabit the state. They are brown without the white head of the bald eagle, and the adults have golden heads and feathers on their legs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has documented almost one hundred active golden eagle nests in the state. These are primarily in the west, with the Badlands and Lake Sakakawea key nesting sites. Golden Eagles prefer open grasslands, avoiding areas that are heavily forested. They tend to nest on cliffs or trees like ash and cottonwoods. They have even been known to nest close to the ground or on the ground itself. They will reuse a nest year after year. Golden eagl