Bald Eagles: A Free Lunch at the Anchorage Landfill
The Anchorage Landfill, a scenic spot nestled in the Chugach Mountains, is a haven for bald eagles, who flock to the area for an easy meal. But while the sight of these majestic birds feasting on the landfill's offerings may be captivating, it's also a reminder of the delicate balance between nature and human waste management.
Most people wouldn't consider a landfill a scenic spot, but the Anchorage Regional Landfill in Eagle River is an exception. Surrounded by the Chugach Mountains, the landfill is home to an abundance of wildlife, particularly bald eagles. These birds have always been attracted to the landfill, especially during the winter months, with as few as a dozen and as many as 100 eagles visiting on some days, according to workers.
While the sight of bald eagles feasting on the landfill's offerings may be captivating, it's also a cause for concern. Solid Waste Services Director Kelli Toth explains that they use a number of strategies to keep the birds from hanging around the active workings of the landfill, including loud noises, paint balls, and even lasers. These measures are in place to prevent the birds from settling on the trash and to keep them moving.
"We have a contract with the USDA to keep the birds moving," Toth says. "We don't want them to settle on the trash. We have a lot of moving things happening over here, so we want to keep them moving as well."
The birds are also a reminder that people can be more thoughtful about what they throw away. Solid Waste Services is piloting programs to keep organics like food scraps out of the landfill that attract birds, and hoping to expand those programs through the winter. Another long-term project, called Waste to Energy, would change landfill operations dramatically, generating electricity in the process and possibly keeping birds away.
"We want to completely not be doing this anymore," Toth says, pointing to the equipment burying trash in the landfill. "We want to take all of this and put it into an incinerator and be able to turn it into energy, so we aren't burying trash anymore."
While the project is still a few years away, Toth says they are doing the best they can with the system they have in place, including covering the landfill at night, which stops the eagle activity. Toth notes that many of the birds leave in the summertime when it's easier to find natural food sources, and she'd like to close the buffet in the wintertime too.
But here's where it gets controversial... Is it ethical to use such aggressive measures to keep birds away from the landfill? What are the implications for the birds' natural behavior and food sources? And what are the long-term effects of these measures on the environment? These are questions that deserve further discussion and thought.
