🚨 USDA Wildlife Services National Hotline:
1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297)
Available Mon–Fri · Free on-site verification & documentation
Your 72-Hour Action Plan
Follow these steps in order. Documentation in the first two hours determines whether you can be compensated.
Right Now — 0 to 2 Hours
Stop. Document. Call.
- 1Do NOT disturb the carcass, move it, or touch it. USDA needs to verify eagle involvement on-site.
- 2Photograph from 6 feet, 20 feet, and overhead. Capture talon marks, feather evidence, and surrounding area.
- 3Note exact GPS coordinates, time of discovery, and weather. Use your phone's location feature.
- 4Move remaining lambs into a shed, pen, or covered area to stop ongoing losses.
- 5Call USDA Wildlife Services immediately. Request an on-site visit for documentation — this is required for compensation claims.
Today — 2 to 12 Hours
File. Notify. Deter.
- 1File a depredation report with your state wildlife agency (see contacts below). Some states require this within 15 days.
- 2Contact a licensed eagle removal specialist. If an eagle has found your flock, it will return — often same time next morning.
- 3Check with neighboring ranches. Eagles frequently work across multiple operations in the same valley.
- 4Set temporary deterrents: reflective flagging tape on fence lines, human presence during dawn hours when most attacks occur.
- 5Document flock count. Record exact number of animals before and after — FSA will need this for any compensation claim.
This Week
Claim. Protect. Follow Up.
- 1File a USDA Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) or ELAP claim at your local FSA office. File within 30 days of loss — delays forfeit your right to compensation.
- 2Get USDA Wildlife Services' written confirmation of eagle involvement. This is your critical document for the LIP/ELAP claim.
- 3Consider hiring a licensed falconer for the remainder of lambing season. A 3-week engagement typically costs $2,500–$4,000 and stops losses.
- 4Submit your incident to Eagle Exchange Hub Network for the regional record. Your data helps document the scale of this problem for policy change.
- 5Share what happened with your county wool growers association. Coordinated reports from multiple ranchers carry more weight with USDA and state agencies.
⚖️ Federal Law: Golden eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA, amended 1962). Killing, trapping, or harassing an eagle without a federal permit is a federal crime — a first offense is a misdemeanor with fines up to $5,000 and/or up to 1 year imprisonment; a second offense is a felony with fines up to $10,000 and/or up to 2 years imprisonment. Do not attempt lethal control. Licensed falconers and USDA Wildlife Services agents can legally capture and relocate birds. Find a licensed specialist →
Emergency Contacts by State
USDA Wildlife Services state offices — free on-site verification, documentation for claims, and technical assistance.
National USDA Wildlife Services Hotline
Mon–Fri business hours · Will connect you to your state office
📋 Documentation Checklist — What to Capture Before USDA Arrives
- Photograph carcass from 6 feet (wounds visible)
- Photograph from 20 feet (showing terrain and location)
- Photograph overhead or wide shot showing surrounding area
- Close-up of talon puncture marks or beak injuries if visible
- Record GPS coordinates (phone location pin is acceptable)
- Note exact time and date of discovery
- Note weather conditions and visibility
- Record wind direction (eagles often hunt into the wind)
- Note approximate age/size of eagle if observed
- Document any feathers left at the scene
- Write down your flock count before and after
- Note whether eagle returned — record number of sightings
- Get written statements from any witnesses or ranch hands
- Keep carcass refrigerated or on ice for USDA inspection
- Document any previous losses this season for trend data
⚠️ Common Mistakes That Cost Ranchers Money
These errors happen constantly and result in denied claims, legal trouble, or ongoing losses.
❌ Waiting to Report
Most state programs require filing within 15–30 days of the loss. Waiting even a week reduces your documentation quality and may invalidate your claim entirely.
❌ Moving the Carcass
USDA Wildlife Services needs to inspect the carcass in place to confirm eagle involvement. Moving or burying it before they visit means you lose USDA verification — the single most important document for compensation.
❌ Attempting Lethal Control
Killing a golden eagle is a federal crime under the BGEPA. A first offense is a misdemeanor (up to $5,000 fine / 1 year imprisonment); repeat offenses are felonies. This applies even if the eagle is actively attacking livestock at the time.
❌ Not Filing for Compensation
Most ranchers who qualify for LIP or ELAP payments never file. USDA estimates only 20–30% of eligible producers submit claims. That money is available — you just have to file for it.
❌ Scaring the Eagle Before Documenting
If you arrive to find an eagle still on the carcass, resist the urge to chase it off before documenting. A photo of the eagle with the carcass is your strongest possible evidence for a claim.
❌ Assuming It Will Stop
An eagle that has killed a lamb in your pasture has learned your flock location. Without active deterrence or removal, it will return — typically at the same time of day, often for weeks.