Natural Resources Law Commons^™

Problems For Pale Male: An Analysis Of The U.S. Fish And Wildlife Service’S Nest Destruction Policy, Brent Plater, Nicole Lopez-Hagan, Laura Horton

Pace Environmental Law Review

During the 2004 holiday season, Pale Male, New York City’s celebrated and world-renowned red-tailed hawk, had his nest deliberately destroyed. The nest was approximately 400-pounds and was built over several years. Almost immediately, this act of destruction was met with popular uproar among his many fans throughout the world. This tragic story could easily have been avoided if the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) had correctly carried out its duties under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). What happened to Pale Male years ago is still a possibility today because the Service’s policy remains the same. This article …