PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota's Game, Fish and Parks Commission has removed the bald eagle from the state's list of threatened species.

The bird was taken off the federal list in 2007, though bald eagles are still federally protected. South Dakota biologists say the species has now recovered enough to also be removed from the state's list of threatened species.

KCCR radio reports that bald eagles were removed from South Dakota's list of endangered species in 2003.

South Dakota's management goal for the bird is an annual average of 25 active bald eagle nests. The estimated number of current nests is about six times that many.

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