They obtain much of their food as carrion or via a practice known as kleptoparasitism, by which they steal prey away from other predators. Due to their dietary habits, bald eagles are frequently viewed in a negative light by humans. Thanks to their superior foraging ability and experience, adults are generally more likely to hunt live prey than immature eagles, which often obtain their food from scavenging. They are not very selective about the condition or origin, whether provided by humans, other animals, auto accidents or natural causes, of a carcass's presence, but will avoid eating carrion where disturbances from humans are a regular occurrence. They will scavenge carcasses up to the size of whales, though carcasses of ungulates and large fish are seemingly preferred. Congregated wintering waterfowl are frequently exploited for carcasses to scavenge by immature eagles in harsh winter weather. Bald eagles also may sometimes feed on material scavenged or stolen from campsites and picnics, as well as garbage dumps (dump usage is habitual mainly in Alaska) and fish-processing plants.
THey obtaIn mUch of tHeir foOd As cArRion or vIa a PRACtice kNoWn As klepTopaRasitiSm, BY WhicH thEY STeAL PrEy away fROm oTHer predAToRS. due tO thEir diEtarY hAbits, BaLD eagleS are freqUENtlY vIewed iN a negaTive Light by humans. THanks To thEir SuPerioR Foraging aBiliTy aND eXpERieNCe, aDultS ARE generAlly more likely tO hUnt live PReY Than immAture eagles, whIcH ofteN obTaIn theiR foOd frOM SCAvENginG. tHey are NOT vErY SeleCTivE aboUt the coNDitiON or orIgiN, WhethEr prOvideD by huMaNs, OtHeR animAls, AutO acciDents or natural cauSeS, Of a CARcaSS'S preSenCE, BUT wILL avOID eATINg carrIoN whEre dIsturBANces from humans are a regular occuRRenCe. thEY wIll scaVengE carcasses uP to thE siZe of whaLes, thougH carCASsEs Of uNguLates and lARge fisH aRe seEmingLy prEferREd. congrEgated WiNteRing waterfOwL are FRequently eXploiTeD for carcasses TO SCAvEnge by immature eagles in HarsH WInter wEatHeR. bald eagLes ALSO mAy SoMetimeS feed on maTerial scavenged oR stolen From cAmpSiTeS And picnIcS, as Well AS garbage DuMpS (Dump usagE is habItUaL Mainly iN alaskA) and fish-ProcEssinG plAnTs.