The Working Group maintains this list of research studies involving Golden Eagles in Wyoming. Thanks to Zach Wallace and collaborators for compiling many of these. Please contact Zach Wallace if you have trouble locating a copy of the listed studies, and send any updates on new publications to the webmaster.
Allison, T.D., J.F. Cochrane, E. Lonsdorf, and C. Sanders-Reed. 2017. A review of options for mitigating take of golden eagles at wind energy facilities. Journal of Raptor Research 51:319–333.
Arnold, L.W. 1954. The golden eagle and its economic status. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington D.C., USA.
Ayers, L.W., B. Oakleaf, and T. Filipi. 2009. Distribution and abundance of breeding ferruginous hawk pairs in south-central Wyoming. Pages 72–85 in A.C. Orabona, editor. Threatened, endangered, and nongame bird and mammal investigations: annual completion report. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Lander, USA.
Bagdonas, K., L. Snyder, K. Rodeman, G. Milliken, and G. Blau. 1985. A study of the effect of drilling on eagle behavior at overwintering roost sites on Pine Mountain, Natrona County, Wyoming: final report to Moncrief Oil, 12 October 1984—15 April 1985. University of Wyoming-Casper Research and Statistical Consulting Center, Casper, USA.
Bay, K., K. Nasman, W. Erickson, K. Taylor, and K. Kosciuch. 2016. Predicting eagle fatalities at wind facilities. Journal of Wildlife Management 80:1000–1010.
Beckmann, J.P., and J. Berger. 2005. Pronghorn hypersensitivity to avian scavengers following golden eagle predation. Western North American Naturalist 65:133–135.
Bedrosian, B.E., R. Domenech, A. Shreading, M.M. Hayes, T.L. Booms, and C.R. Barger. 2018. Migration corridors of adult golden eagles originating in northwestern North America. PLoS ONE 13:e0205204.
Bedrosian, G., J.D. Carlisle, B. Woodbridge, J.R. Dunk, Z.P. Wallace, J.F. Dwyer, R.E. Harness, E.K. Mojica, G.E. Williams, and T. Jones. 2020. A spatially explicit model to predict the relative risk of golden eagle electrocutions in the Northwestern Plains, USA. Journal of Raptor Research 54:110-125.
Bedrosian, G., J.D. Carlisle, Z.P. Wallace, B. Bedrosian, D.W. LaPlante, B. Woodbridge, and J.R. Dunk. 2018. Spatially explicit regional-scale risk assessments for golden eagles in the Western United States. Unpublished report prepared by the Western Golden Eagle Team, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Regions 1, 2, 6, and 8.
Bedrosian, G., J.W. Watson, K. Steenhof, M.N. Kochert, C.R. Preston, B. Woodbridge, G.E. Williams, K.R. Keller, and R.H. Crandall. 2017. Spatial and temporal patterns in golden eagle diets in the Western United States, with implications for conservation planning. Journal of Raptor Research 51:347–367.
Benson, P.C. 1982. Large raptor electrocution and powerpole utilization: a study in six Western states. Dissertation, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
Boeker, E.L., and P.R. Nickerson. 1975. Raptor electrocutions. Wildlife Society Bulletin 3:79–81.
Brown, J.L., B. Bedrosian, D.A. Bell, M.A. Braham, J. Cooper, R.H. Crandall, J. DiDonato, R. Domenech, A.E. Duerr, and T.E. Katzner. 2017. Patterns of spatial distribution of golden eagles across North America: how do they fit into existing landscape-scale mapping systems? Journal of Raptor Research 51:197–215.
Brown, J.L., G. Bedrosian, and K.R. Keller. 2021. Habitat associations of golden eagle prey inferred from prey remains at nesting sites in Utah, USA. Journal of Raptor Research 55(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3356/0892-1016-55.1.1
Carlisle, J.D., L.E. Sanders, A.D. Chalfoun, and K.G. Gerow. 2018. Raptor nest-site use in relation to the proximity of coalbed-methane development. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 41:227–243. https://doi.org/10.32800/abc.2018.41.0227
Carlisle, J.D., G. Bedrosian, and T.L. McDonald. 2017. The influence of greater sage-grouse management on risks faced by golden eagles in sagebrush ecosystems: a spatially explicit assessment of the umbrella species concept. Unpublished report prepared for Western Golden Eagle Team, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc., Laramie, Wyoming, USA.
Cochrane, J.F., E. Lonsdorf, T.D. Allison, and C.A. Sanders-Reed. 2015. Modeling with uncertain science: estimating mitigation credits from abating lead poisoning in golden eagles. Ecological Applications 25:1518–1533.
Deblinger, R.D., and A.W. Alldredge. 1996. Golden eagle predation on pronghorns in Wyoming's Great Divide Basin. Journal of Raptor Research 30:157–159.
Domenech, R., B.E. Bedrosian, R.H. Crandall, and V.A. Slabe. 2015. Space use and habitat selection by adult migrant golden eagles wintering in the western United States. Journal of Raptor Research 49:429–440.
Dudek, B.M., M.N. Kochert, J.G. Barnes, P.H. Bloom, J.M. Papp, R.W. Gerhold, K.E. Purple, K.V. Jacobson, C.R. Preston, C.R. Vennum, J.W. Watson, and J.A. Heath. Prevalence and risk factors of Trichomonas gallinae and trichomonosis in golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nestlings in Western North America. Journal of Wildlife Diseases.
Dunk, J.R., B. Woodbridge, T.M. Lickfett, G. Bedrosian, B.R. Noon, D.W. LaPlante, J.L. Brown, and J.D. Tack. 2019. Modeling spatial variation in density of golden eagle nest sites in the western United States. PLoS ONE 14:e0223143.
Dwyer, J.F., R.E. Harness, B.D. Gerber, M.A. Landon, P. Petersen, D.D. Austin, B. Woodbridge, G.E. Williams, and D. Eccleston. 2016. Power pole density informs spatial prioritization for mitigating avian electrocution. Journal of Wildlife Management 80:634–642.
Fala, R., A. Anderson, and J. Ward. 1985. High-wall-to-pole golden eagle nest site relocations. Journal of Raptor Research 19:1–7.
Fargione, J., J. Kiesecker, M.J. Slaats, and S. Olimb. 2012. Wind and wildlife in the Northern Great Plains: identifying low-impact areas for wind development. PLoS ONE 7:e41468.
Faulkner, D.W. 2010. Birds of Wyoming. Roberts and Company Publishers, Greenwood Village, Colorado, USA.
Gedir, J. V., Gould, M. J., Millsap, B. A., Howell, P. E., Zimmerman, G. S., Bjerre, E. R., & White, H. M. 2025. Estimated golden eagle mortality from wind turbines in the western United States. Biological Conservation 302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110961
Goodwin, G.A. 1977. Golden Eagle predation on pronghorn antelope. Auk 94:789–790.
Hawks, S.E., and D. Oleyar. 2015. Fall 2014 raptor migration annual report: Commissary Ridge hawkwatch, SW Wyoming. HawkWatch International, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
Hayden, S.L. 1984. Winter food habits and ecology of golden and bald eagles in northeastern Wyoming. Thesis, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA.
Hunt, W.G., N. Dunlop, and J. M. Lockhart. 2021. A revealing case of territorial fighting by golden eagles. Journal of Raptor Research 55(1), 112–114. https://doi.org/10.3356/0892-1016-55.1.112
Kochert, M.N., K. Steenhof, C.L. McIntyre, and E.H. Craig. 2002. Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). in A.F. Poole, and F.B. Gill, editors. The birds of North America. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York, USA.
Layfield, J. F., B. Bedrosian, A. Chalfoun, R. Domenech, S. B. Lewis, B. W. Smith, J. A. Merkle. 2025. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors simultaneously modulated the use of roadways by Golden Eagles during winter. Ecology and Evolution 15, no. 8: e71955. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71955.
Lonsdorf, E., C.A. Sanders‐Reed, C. Boal, and T.D. Allison. 2018. Modeling golden eagle‐vehicle collisions to design mitigation strategies. Journal of Wildlife Management 82:1633–1644.
MacLaren, P.A. 1986. Resource partitioning in an assemblage of breeding raptors from southeastern Wyoming. Thesis, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA.
MacLaren, P.A., S.H. Anderson, and D.E. Runde. 1988. Food habits and nest characteristics of breeding raptors in southwestern Wyoming. The Great Basin Naturalist 48:548–553.
McIntyre, C.L., D.C. Douglas, and M.W. Collopy. 2008. Movements of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) from interior Alaska during their first year of independence. Auk 125:214–224.
Millsap, B.A. 1978. Raptor nesting and production in southern Wyoming during 1978. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Millsap, B.A., G.S. Zimmerman, J.R. Sauer, R.M. Nielson, M. Otto, E. Bjerre, and R. Murphy. 2013. Golden eagle population trends in the western United States: 1968–2010. Journal of Wildlife Management 77:1436–1448.
Mojica, E.K., J.F. Dwyer, R.E. Harness, G.E. Williams, and B. Woodbridge. 2018. Review and synthesis of research investigating Golden Eagle electrocutions. Journal of Wildlife Management 82:495–506.
Nielson, R.M., G.T. DiDonato, and L.L. McDonald. 2016a. A survey of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the western U.S.: 2006–2015. Report prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Birds, Albuquerque, New Mexico by Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc., Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA.
Nielson, R.M., and L. McManus. 2014. A survey of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Western U.S.: mid-winter 2014. Report prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Birds, Albuquerque, New Mexico by Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc., Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA.
Nielson, R.M., L. McManus, T. Rintz, L.L. McDonald, R.K. Murphy, W.H. Howe, and R.E. Good. 2014. Monitoring abundance of golden eagles in the western United States. Journal of Wildlife Management 78:721–730.
Nielson, R.M., R.K. Murphy, B.A. Millsap, W.H. Howe, and G. Gardner. 2016b. Modeling late-summer distribution of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Western United States. PLoS ONE 11:e0159271.
Oakleaf, R.J., L.E. Olson, J.R. Squires, and Z.P. Wallace. 2014. The status of golden eagles in Wyoming: a preliminary review. Pages 357–395 in A.C. Orabona, and N. Cudworth, editors. Threatened, endangered, and nongame bird and mammal investigations: annual completion report. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Lander, USA.
Oleyar, D. 2016. Fall 2015 raptor migration annual report: Commissary Ridge hawkwatch, SW Wyoming. HawkWatch International, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Oleyar, D. 2017. Fall 2016 raptor migration annual report: Commissary Ridge hawkwatch, SW Wyoming. HawkWatch International, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Olson, L.E., R.J. Oakleaf, J.R. Squires, Z.P. Wallace, and P.L. Kennedy. 2015. Nesting pair density and abundance of ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) from aerial surveys in Wyoming. Journal of Raptor Research 49:400–412.
Pagel, J.E., K.J. Kritz, B.A. Millsap, R.K. Murphy, E.L. Kershner, and S. Covington. 2013. Bald eagle and golden eagle mortalities at wind energy facilities in the contiguous United States. Journal of Raptor Research 47:311–315.
Phillips, R.L., and A.E. Beske. 1982. Golden eagles and coal development in the eastern Powder River basin of Wyoming. Annual Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sheridan, Wyoming, USA.
Phillips, R.L., and A.E. Beske. 1990. Nesting ecology of golden eagles and other raptors in southeastern Montana and northern Wyoming. Technical Report 26, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington D.C., USA.
Phillips, R.L., T.P. McEneaney, and A.E. Beske. 1984. Population densities of breeding golden eagles in Wyoming. Wildlife Society Bulletin 12:269–273.
Platt, S. 1984. Energy development and raptor populations on and adjacent to the Black Butte Coal Company mine permit area. Unpublished Progress Report, Black Butte Coal Company, Point of Rocks, Wyoming.
Postovit, H.R., J.W. Grier, J.M. Lockhart, and J. Tate. 1982. Directed relocation of a golden eagle nest site. Journal of Wildlife Management 46:1045–1048.
Preston, C.R., R.E. Jones, and N.S. Horton. 2017a. Golden eagle diet breadth and reproduction in relation to fluctuations in primary prey abundance in Wyoming's Bighorn Basin. Journal of Raptor Research 51:334–346.
Preston, C.R., R.E. Jones, N.S. Horton, B.L. Smith, and C. Anco. 2017b. Golden eagle ecology in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming 2009–2017 Final Report. Draper Natural History Museum, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody, Wyoming, USA.
Riginos, C., B. Bedrosian, and H. Copeland. 2017. Priority areas for reducing golden eagle-vehicle mortalities in Wyoming. Final report to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Washington D.C., USA.
Russell, R.E., and J.C. Franson. 2014. Causes of mortality in eagles submitted to the National Wildlife Health Center 1975–2013. Wildlife Society Bulletin 38:697–704.
Schmalzried, J.T. 1976. Nesting and food habits of the golden eagle on the Laramie plains. Thesis, University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA.
Slabe, V.A., R.H. Crandall, T. Katzner, A.E. Duerr, and T.A. Miller. 2024. Efficacy of non-lead ammunition distribution programs to offset fatalities of golden eagles in southeast Wyoming. Journal of Wildlife Management 2024:e22547. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22647.
Slater, S.J., and J.P. Smith. 2010. Effectiveness of raptor perch deterrents on an electrical transmission line in southwestern Wyoming. Journal of Wildlife Management 74:1080–1088.
Smith, J.P., S.J. Slater, and M.C. Neal. 2010. An assessment of the effects of oil and gas field activities on nesting raptors in the Rawlins, Wyoming and Price, Utah Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, Technical Note 433. U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, Salt Lake City, Wyoming State Office, Cheyenne, Colorado State Office, Lakewood, USA.
Szcodronski, K.E., and P.C. Cross. 2021. Scavengers reduce potential brucellosis transmission risk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Ecosphere 12(10):e03783.
Tack, J.D., and B.C. Fedy. 2015. Landscapes for energy and wildlife: conservation prioritization for golden eagles across large spatial scales. PLoS ONE 10:e0134781.
Tack, J.D., B.R. Noon, Z.H. Bowen, L. Strybos, and B.C. Fedy. 2017. No substitute for survival: perturbation analyses using a golden eagle population model reveal limits to managing for take. Journal of Raptor Research 51:258–272.
Tyus, H.M., and J.M. Lockhart. Mitigation and research needs for wildlife on Western surface mined lands. Pages 252–255 in Proceedings of the mitigation symposium: a national workshop on mitigating losses of fish and wildlife habitats. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture General Technical Report RM-65, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2016. Bald and golden eagles: population demographics and estimation of sustainable take in the United States, 2016 update. Division of Migratory Bird Management, Washington D.C., USA.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2017b. Human disturbance of breeding golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Unpublished report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regions 1, 2, 6, and 8.
Wallace, Z.P. 2014. Effects of oil and natural gas development on territory occupancy of ferruginous hawks and golden eagles in Wyoming, USA. Thesis, Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA.
Wallace, Z., G. Bedrosian, B. Woodbridge, G. Williams, B.E. Bedrosian, and J. Dunk. 2019. Wyoming and Uinta Basins Golden Eagle Conservation Strategy. Unpublished report prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Western Golden Eagle Team by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database and Eagle Environmental, Inc. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/DownloadFile/167909
Wallace, Z.P., B.E. Bedrosian, J.R. Dunk, D.W. LaPlante, B. Woodbridge, B.W. Smith, J.L. Brown, T.M. Lickfett, K. Gura, D. Bittner, R.H. Crandall, R. Domenech, T.E. Katzner, K.J. Kritz, S.B. Lewis, M.J. Lockhart, T.A. Miller, K. Quint, A. Sheading, S.J. Slater, and D.W. Stahlecker. 2024. Predicting the spatial distribution of wintering golden eagles to inform full annual cycle conservation in western North America. PLoS ONE 19(1):e0297345. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297345.
Wendell, M.D., J.M. Sleeman, and G. Kratz. 2002. Retrospective study of morbidity and mortality of raptors admitted to Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital during 1995 to 1998. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 38:101–106.
Wrakestraw, G.F. 1973. Wyoming bald and golden eagle survey. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Cheyenne, USA.
Young, D., C. LeBeau, W. Erickson, S. Nomani, J.R. Boehrs, and B. Oakleaf. 2010. Status of breeding populations of ferruginous hawks, golden eagles, and bald eagles in Albany and Carbon counties, Wyoming. Pages 42–75 in A. C. Orabona, editor. Threatened, endangered, and nongame bird and mammal investigations: annual completion report. Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Lander, USA.