When Lewis and Clark traveled west, eagles lived in almost every part of North America.  Many an eagle looked down upon the Corps of Discovery while soaring high and gracefully above them. 

Only two kinds of eagles live in the United States and Canada: the golden eagle and the bald eagle.  The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States, and it is found only in North America.   (It is not really bald---it just has a white head!)  In the United States, the eagle is considered a symbol of freedom.

Eagles are among the largest and most powerful birds in the world.

Eagles are 30 to 35 inches long from beak to tail, and have a wing span of about seven feet.  They have keen sight and powerful wings, and sometimes carry prey weighing almost as much as themselves.  Eagles hunt rabbits, squirrels, other birds, and sometimes young deer and lambs.  They may also eat dead animals.  Bald eagles also like to catch and eat fish, including salmon.

Indians have great respect for the eagle, admiring its power and skill.   The eagle still plays an important part in Indian tradition and ceremony.  Before 1940, so many bald eagles had been killed by hunters, that the government passed laws protecting them so they wouldn't become extinct.  In Idaho, eagles can often be seen flying along the Snake River and in other areas.