Community Rallies to Protect Bald Eagle Habitat from Development
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A nonprofit land trust has secured an option to purchase the last undeveloped shoreline of California's Big Bear Lake, which serves as critical hunting grounds for a pair of bald eagles and their chicks. The community, including local students, has raised approximately one-quarter of the $10 million needed to buy the land and prevent its conversion into a luxury housing development. The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust (SBMLT) must complete the purchase by the end of July.
Facts First
- The SBMLT has an option to buy the Moon Camp shoreline to prevent luxury housing development.
- The land is the last undeveloped part of Big Bear Lake and serves as hunting grounds for bald eagles Jackie and Shadow.
- The community has raised about $2.5 million of the required $10 million total.
- Local students have organized bake sales and lemonade stands to support the fundraising effort.
- The purchase option expires at the end of July, when the SBMLT must pay the developer.
What Happened
The San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust (SBMLT) entered into a limited Purchase Option Agreement to buy a parcel of land known as Moon Camp on the shoreline of Big Bear Lake. This area is the last undeveloped shoreline of the lake and serves as the hunting grounds for a mating pair of bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, who are raising two chicks in the valley. The land also provides habitat for endemic plant species like the ash-gray Indian paintbrush. The SBMLT and the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV) have raised approximately one-quarter of the $10 million required to purchase the land from a developer.
Why this Matters to You
If you care about local wildlife and open spaces, this effort directly impacts the preservation of a critical habitat in your state. The success of this campaign could ensure that a popular bald eagle family retains its hunting grounds. For residents and visitors to Big Bear Valley, protecting this shoreline from development may help maintain the area's natural character and ecological balance. Your support for such community-led conservation efforts could set a precedent for protecting other vulnerable habitats.
What's Next
The SBMLT must pay the developer for the Moon Camp area by the end of July to exercise its purchase option. Fundraising efforts are ongoing, with local students continuing to organize activities like bake sales and lemonade stands to contribute. The community will need to secure the remaining funds, approximately $7.5 million, to meet the deadline and permanently protect the land.