Bald Eagles Reclaim New Jersey Skies, Removed from Endangered List

As of October 2025, bald eagles have continued their remarkable comeback in New Jersey, with the state's population more than doubling in the past decade. The latest sign of their resurgence is a pair of bald eagles that have taken up residence in Allenhurst.

Bald eagles can now be found across the state, with their highest numbers along the Delaware Bay. In recent years, at least one eagle pair has been nesting near the Manasquan Reservoir. In March 2025, a bald eagle was rescued by the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals after being hit by a vehicle near Route 18 in Neptune. The eagle was nursed back to health and released in April at Cattus Island County Park in Toms River.

The bald eagle's comeback has been remarkable. In 2024, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife's Bald Eagle Project reported 293 eagle nest sites in the state, with a record 264 documented to be active. This is a significant increase from the 1970s and early 1980s, when New Jersey had just one remaining bald eagle nest. The state's population had been devastated by the widespread use of DDT and other threats, including habitat degradation and human disturbances.

Recovery efforts in New Jersey, which began in the early 1980s, have paid off. Reintroduction of eagles from Canada and artificial incubation and fostering efforts have helped the bald eagle population to thrive. As a result, the administration of Gov. Phil Murphy has removed the bald eagle, along with the osprey, from the state's endangered species list in January 2025.