"eagles"

Over the past three years, Unalaska’s team of volunteers has rescued or retrieved more than 50 eagles.

A similar effort stalled in 2012 following public outcry. City staff say the problem now is there aren’t enough federal biologists to map eagles’ nests, so enforcement is inconsistent.

Eagles flocked to the Chilkat River near Haines and Klukwan in great numbers this year. But the number of human visitors coming to see them was way down.

“It’s not that eagles being hit by cars is particularly unusual, but the intentional part of it is what sets this apart,” said Unalaska Deputy Police Chief Jennifer Shockley.

The American Bald Eagle Foundation in Haines has seen such a dramatic increase in bird rescues that they’re asking for the public’s help. The foundation plans to form a volunteer Avian Rescue Team to help respond to the unusually high number of injured birds.

When an eagle dies in Alaska, its feathers may end up in a powwow – or on a graduation cap – somewhere in the Lower 48. That’s because of a federal program connecting tribes, raptor centers and wildlife officials.

Dozens of people travel to witness the eagle gathering each year, filling up almost every hotel room in Haines.

KTOO has published thousands of stories on the website this year. Here are the top ten most read stories from 2013.

Should the City and Borough of Juneau be regulating development near eagle nests, and if so, to what extent? The CBJ Planning Commission will take a look at those questions over the next several months and make a recommendation to the Juneau Assembly.