Wyoming Wind Farms Are Ecological Death Traps for Eagles
7th April 2026
In my last Wyoming wind power article I noted a National Audubon Society warning that the growing masses of wind farms could be “population sinks” for golden eagles. This means that many eagles will be attracted to them, to then be killed by them.
Digging into the scientific literature I found that this is a well recognized wildlife management issue. It usually goes by the name “ecological trap.” Since being trapped means being killed I think ecological death trap is more appropriate.
In fact Wyoming wind power is a double death trap for golden eagles. First, as Audubon says, when the local eagles are killed this creates a sparsely populated area which other eagles will then come into. Eagles like most birds try to spread out, probably to maintain the local food supply for their hatchlings. These new eagles are then also killed and the cycle is repeated in a true death spiral.
In addition wind farms kill a lot of other birds as well as a huge number of bats. Golden eagles are scavengers so they are attracted by this abundant food supply. In fact being struck by cars while eating road kill is a major cause of golden eagle death.