See Rare, Gigantic Eagles at Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park

Just when you think you have seen everything at Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park, they drop news that makes you double-check if you are looking at a real animal or a creature from a fantasy movie.

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Recently, the park shared that they welcomed three extremely rare baby aardwolf pups, which I honestly did not even know existed. Now, I am feeling that exact same way about the park's newest residents!

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If you thought the bald eagles soaring around Michigan were impressive, wait until you get a look at what just landed in Alto.

The Heaviest Eagles on the Planet

Boulder Ridge officially announced that they are now home to Steller’s Sea Eagles, the absolute heavyweights of the bird world! According to the park, photos do not even begin to do their size justice.

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Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park via Facebook

To put how gigantic these birds are in perspective:

They can weigh up to 20 pounds, making them officially the heaviest eagle species in the world. That's roughly double the weight of a standard bald eagle!
Their wingspan can stretch up to a jaw-dropping 8 feet across.
They have huge, bright yellow beaks and talons that look like they belong on a dinosaur. In fact, they have the largest beak of any living eagle!

Why Are These Birds So Extremely Rare?

Seeing a Steller’s Sea Eagle in North America is a big deal because they are officially recognized as one of the rarest raptors on Earth.

According to experts at the San Diego Zoo, these birds are "glacial relics." That means they evolved along the narrow, freezing coasts of northeastern Asia during ancient Ice Age cycles and basically never left!

Outside of captivity, they are only found in remote, icy regions of coastal Russia and Japan.

Their wild numbers are dangerously small, with researchers estimating there are only around 5,000 of these eagles left in the entire world. Because they live in such isolated, frigid environments, scientists still know very little about them. Factors like industrial pollution, loss of nesting trees, and overfishing have also caused their populations to slowly decline over the years.

Only a tiny handful of facilities across the United States have ever hosted these birds, making the new exhibit at Boulder Ridge a huge treat for West Michigan.

Go See Them for Yourself

If you want to check out these giant raptors in person, Boulder Ridge is currently open daily in Alto. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sundays from 12:00 p.m.to 6:00 p.m.