Tribal leaders packed a federal courtroom in Arizona on Tuesday to challenge the removal of the bald eagle from the endangered species list.
Lawyers for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Yavapai-Apache Nation and the Tonto Apache Tribe argued that the state's eagle population remains endangered. They said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to consult them before removing the sacred bird from the list.
Judge Mary Murguia heard arguments but said she would issue a decision later.
Get the Story:Judge delays decision on eagle's status (The Arizona Republic 2/6) Relevant Links:
Division of Bald Eagle Management - http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/baldeagle.htm
National Eagle Repository - http://www.r6.fws.gov/law/le65.html
Center for Biological Diversity - http://www.biologicaldiversity.org
Maricopa Audubon Society - http://www.maricopaaudubon.org Related Stories:
Arizona tribes support eagle preservation lawsuit (2/1)
DOI removes bald eagle from endangered list (6/29)
Comment sought on Native use of migratory birds (6/28)
Arizona tribes threaten suit over eagle delisting (5/11)
