Weekly Coeur d’Alene bald eagle count cut short by weather, likely would have broken record again

The weekly Coeur d’Alene eagle count was cut short by inclement weather, said Carrie Hugo, U.S. Bureau of Land Management wildlife biologist.

“The snow caught me before I could finish unfortunately and the visibility was so low that I could not see enough to make any count valid,” she said in an email.

Still, by the time her count was cut short she said she was on track to break the record established just last week. By the time Hugo reached the Mineral Ridge boat launch, Friday, she had counted 293 bald eagles (248 adults and 45 juveniles). Due to the visibility she was only able to count a few eagle in the Mineral Ridge area and none at Beauty Bay. Last week Beauty Bay had 138 eagles alone, she said.

“I am guessing that the record would have been broken again,” she said in the email.