Neighbors say a bald eagle nesting site may have been destroyed after crews removed trees near a Tacoma townhouse development despite weeks of warnings.
TACOMA, Wash. — Residents near Charlotte’s Blueberry Park in Tacoma are calling for an investigation after trees were cut down on Monday near what neighbors believe was an active bald eagle nesting site.
Neighbors say they spent weeks contacting city, county, and state agencies, asking officials to review the area before construction moved forward on a nearby townhouse development.
Now, they fear it may be too late.
“We cannot put the eagles back in their nests. We cannot put the tree back up,” Andrea Haug said.
Community members say they watched crews remove trees near the site Monday while a helicopter hovered overhead, forcing the adult eagles to fly away.
Haug, chair of the South End Neighborhood Council, said neighbors had been tracking a pair of bald eagles near the property for months and repeatedly warned agencies about possible nesting activity.
“Personally I witnessed the eagles fly over my home, after they were flushed out of the property,” Haug said. “We also received reports from neighbors that saw the same exact eagles.”
Haug shared photos taken by neighbors within the last month that appear to show bald eagles near the development site.
The neighborhood group says it contacted multiple agencies requesting the area be reviewed before any trees were removed.
Under federal law, disturbing an active bald eagle nest during breeding season is illegal.
Residents are now demanding construction be paused while agencies investigate whether an active nest was present near the site.
“We don’t know these people,” Haug said. “We’re supposed to trust that they would self-report something that would stop them from making money. This is showing how our system is flawed.”
The developer, Copper Ridge LLC, disputes accusations that the project violated environmental regulations.
“I would say in my career of nearly 30 years, this site has undergone more intensive environmental review than any other project I’ve developed,” said Kurt Wilson, manager of Copper Ridge LLC.
Wilson said the company has worked to ensure the project complies with environmental laws and protections for wildlife.
“We’ve done everything we can to make sure we’ve complied with the law and there’s nothing that we’re going to impact negatively as it relates to any protected species within the site,” Wilson said.
Maria Lee, a spokesperson for the City of Tacoma, said in a statement to KING 5 that the city is aware of concerns, but “has not received verified information documenting an active nest on or adjacent to the site.”
“The project underwent environmental and permit review consistent with applicable City regulations, and no eagle-related conditions or restrictions were identified as part of the approval process,” Lee said in a statement. “If credible new information is submitted, the City would review that information and coordinate, as appropriate, with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which are the agencies with primary expertise and authority regarding bald eagle protections. At this time, the City is not aware of any agency determination requiring work to stop.”
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