![Happy 4th of July! Fun Bald Eagle Facts [Infographic]](https://good-nature-blog-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2013/07/Bald-Eagle-1043x640.png)
Happy 4th of July from Nat Hab! Check out our infographic below for some fun facts about the USA’s national emblem, the majestic bald eagle. Then browse our U.S. National Parks Tours to find some great destinations to see bald eagles in the wild!
![Bald Eagle Facts for 4th of July [Infographic]](https://good-nature-blog-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2013/07/Bald-Eagle-Infographic-4th-of-July3.png "Bald Eagle Facts for 4th of July [Infographic]")
The bald eagle was adopted as our national bird in 1787, despite objections from Benjamin Franklin, who wanted it to be the wild turkey. We love the bald eagle because it represents one of our country’s greatest endangered species success stories.
The lower 48 states’ bald eagle population declined from nearly 500,000 to only 417 nesting pairs by 1967, due to hunting, habitat destruction, and the use of the poison DDT on crops. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was successful in bringing the bald eagle back from the brink of extinction through breeding programs, reintroduction projects, and the eventual ban on DDT.
