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foraging areas. They may hunt from lowland grasslands to alpine meadows or wherever dependable food supplies are to be found. Golden eagles might be found at any elevation as long as the terrain provides updrafts to assist their flight and open habitat where foraging can occur. FORAGING HABITS The golden eagle usually hunts by soaring high above the ground, then swooping down to the ground to capture prey. Alternatively, eagles hunt over foothills and ridges with a low, quartering flight. Prey items include ground squirrels, rabbits, marmots, pikas and occasionally large birds. Dead and crippled waterfowl are sometime taken during the winter months. When game is not available, the golden eagle will readily feed on carcasses of domestic animals (Beedy and Granholm, 1985). Golden eagles are capable of killing livestock and large game animals, although documentation of such predation is relatively rare. Although predation on kids and lambs does occur, indications are that the problem is not universal,but local in nature(Snow, 1973). THREATS AND MANAGEMENT CONCERNS The threats to the golden eagle population in California include habitat loss, human disturbance, shooting, electrocution and poisoning. Habitat loss is probably the most serious threat to the golden eagle. There is increasing demand for development of public lands and this demand could have detrimental effects on golden eagle habitat. Development of large tracts of monotypic habitat reduces availability of the prey species of the eagle. The golden eagle is very sensitive to human activity around the nest site. Eyries have been abandoned in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and in Utah due to human disturbance (Snow, 1973). Golden eagles also have been known to move to higher elevations in response to human interference (Snow, 1973). Human pressure through public use and development of eagle habitat might result in reduced numbers of golden eagles(Snow,1973). Shooting of golden eagles still occurs in many states. The golden eagle has been protected since 1962 under the Bald Eagle Act. More than 20,000 golden eagles were killed by sheep ranchers over a ten year period in Texas and New Mexico. This persecution was undertaken despite little evidence of actual livestock depredation (Ehrlich et al., 1988). Ranchers still trap, shoot and poison golden eagles, claiming that sheep and other livestock are routinely attacked by the eagles. Previously, governors of the states could request permission from the Secretary of the Interior to take eagles in any area and for any length of time which was deemed necessary to protect livestock. Such permits are no longer issued(Snow,1973). Electrocution and poisoning are no longer important causes of mortality in golden eagle populations. The energy companies have alleviated much of the problem by building eagle perches that are well above the power lines on many power poles. Chemical contamination is less of a problem since the ban of DDT r and prohibition of the use of lead shot in waterfowl hunting . However, some