Trail restrictions north of the Station Road Bridge in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park have been lifted, as the eaglet in the heron rookery area has fledged.
This is only the second successful nest in more than 70 years, according to park officials.
The trail restrictions were set in February to protect the nest and the anticipated eggs. The National Park Service closed certain areas surrounding the nest to human traffic to minimize disturbance.
The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail was not closed; however, visitors were asked to continue moving along the trail instead of stopping or standing for any length of time.
In late winter eagles lay one to three eggs that are incubated for approximately 35 days. Eagle eggs and young are extremely sensitive to cold temperatures, so adults must remain on the nest constantly. Human disturbance can disrupt this constant care, jeopardizing nesting success.
Although recently removed from the endangered species list, the Bald Eagle is still protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Both federal laws prohibit taking, killing, selling or otherwise harming eagles, their nests or eggs.
For recent photos on the chronology of the eaglet, visit www.nps.gov/cuva.