14 Animals That Prey on Bald Eagles, from Gulls to Gators

Quick Take

• Bald eagles have no natural predators as adults, but one animal on this list is capable of catching a fully grown one on the ground. Jaguars catching adult eagles →
• One predator on this list raids eagle nests, eats its fill, then gets caught napping inside, and it's not who you'd expect. Bears raiding eagle nests →
• Some of the eagle's own prey species have turned the tables, becoming predators of the very bird that hunts them. Crocodiles ambushing eagles →
• A creature that never leaves the water still manages to catch bald eagles, and its method is more patient and deadly than you'd think. Alligators ambushing near water →

When they are fully grown, bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) do not have any natural predators aside from humans. These birds of prey are fierce and fast. They are so hard to catch that the effort is not worth the energy for most animals. This means there are few predators that eat bald eagles. However, they are still vulnerable at some point in their lives. When predators do catch bald eagles, they generally do so when the birds are still small chicks or even when they are eggs. Eggs, young chicks, and injured bald eagles are the ones most in danger. Read on to learn which predators go after bald eagle chicks and eggs.

1. Raccoons (Procyon lotor)

Fish make up the vast majority of a bald eagle’s diet, though they are opportunistic feeders and may occasionally take small mammals like raccoons. However, it also works in reverse. Raccoons sometimes attack bald eagle nests to hunt for eggs.

2. Black-Billed Magpies (Pica hudsonia)

Bald eagles and black-billed magpies are often seen eating similar foods. They may fight for a particularly tasty morsel, or magpies might wait until eagles are done with their meal before eating the remaining scraps. If a black-billed magpie is unlucky, it may even become prey, but there are times when the black-billed magpie ends up the predator of bald eagles. Like raccoons, magpies enjoy eating eggs. They will also go for bald eagle chicks if they have the chance.

3. Eurasian Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo)

Even though Eurasian eagle owls are known for taking down other large birds of prey, adult bald eagles are a bit too much for this bird. Their style is more ducks, grouse, and crows. However, an injured bald eagle or a young chick is fair game for a hungry owl.

4. Crows (Corvus)

Sometimes, crows get cocky and take risks. When this happens, they are quick to get hunted down by bald eagles. Yet every once in a while, a crow will take a calculated risk. It’ll dive into a nest to eat young bald eagles or even get an egg. If it comes down to a fight, a crow may get the upper hand if the bald eagle is already injured or sick.

5. Bobcats (Lynx rufus)

Bobcats will get their teeth into a bald eagle every time they get the chance, but they can’t take on a full-grown bald eagle very often. Usually, they compete for the same food source. A bobcat is one of the predators that eats bald eagles when the opportunity arises, such as when an eagle is injured. They also sometimes eat chicks that fall out of their nest. Bald eagles that have become roadkill are a particular favorite.

6. Black Bears (Ursus americanus)

As big as black bears are, they still aren’t one to take on an angry bald eagle. What they will do, though, is make a snack out of the contents of an eagle nest. Though black bears are large, they’re nimble climbers. Bears have been observed scavenging through an eagle’s nest on more than one occasion. In fact, in 2023, a black bear was found napping in an eagle’s nest after eating its fill.

7. Foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Foxes don’t often get the chance to eat eagle eggs. Most foxes struggle to reach such heights, and eagles build their nests and lay their eggs up high. There are times, though, when nests are low enough for a fox to get to them. Man-made bald eagle nests and those on lower branches are perfect targets for a wily fox.

8. Gulls (Larus)

You might not think that a gull would be one of the predators that eat bald eagles, but they do. When looking for an easy meal, gulls will eat other birds’ eggs. They are known to steal eggs from other gulls, but they do, on occasion, snatch an egg or two out of bald eagle nests. They will also eat young bald eagles if they have the opportunity.

9. Ravens (Corvus)

Ravens mainly focus on the eggs, but if an eagle is young or is already injured, they won’t waste an opportunity for an easy meal. Their big beaks are perfect for breaking open eggs.

10. Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura)

Both vultures and bald eagles are carrion feeders. This means that more often than not, they are competing for food rather than trying to eat each other. Once one of them becomes the carrion, though, all bets are off. The vulture is a bit of a cheat on this list because they only eat bald eagles that are already dead. However, they will eat young bald eagles if get the opportunity.

11. Wolves (Canis lupus)

Since wolves regularly hunt in packs, it’s not often they go for a smaller meal. Though they don’t mind fighting for their food, a bird that can fly away and isn’t enough to feed most of the pack is more effort than it’s usually worth. However, when times are desperate, or a wolf is on its own for some reason, bald eagle nests offer a good, quick meal. If a nest has been placed too close to the ground, a wolf won’t hesitate to crack open some eggs to get to the nutrients inside the shell.

12. Snakes (Suborder Serpentes)

Snakes are known for eating almost anything, even deer or alligator if the snake is big enough. So it comes as no surprise that some snakes eat young bald eagles and their eggs. While it might be a lot for some smaller snakes, for snakes like pythons, bald eagle eggs are nothing more than a light snack.

13. Crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus)

Crocodiles rarely leave the water for long. While there are tales of them and alligators climbing fences, they aren’t ones to climb up a tree to get to a nest. So how do water-loving crocodiles catch birds? They sit and wait. Every animal has to drink water at some point, and bald eagles also forage in and around water. When they do, a crocodile will be waiting.

14. Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)

Alligators aren’t predators that chase their prey. They prefer to sit and wait. Often, they will wait just under the water’s surface, near the bank where animals come to drink. This is where they catch the majority of their prey, including the occasional bald eagle while it is foraging for food in the water and nearby.