A lot animals have been causing problems throughout central Pennsylvania in recent months, including a bull wandering around York County and multiple bear sightings.

The most recent topic, however, has to do with an eagle’s nest.

The York County Food Bank, currently located at 15 Marianne Dr., York, has been searching for a new location for the past few years. He found a great location along the Susquehanna Trail, but the discovery of an eagle’s nest halted expansion plans.

An 18-acre residential property that had been rezoned was up for grabs, and the food bank was more than interested, as it provided enough space for a warehouse and a parking lot large enough for the food bank’s current drive-thru.

According to a press release, an environmental audit revealed that the new land was unusable.

“An environmental audit of the new land revealed a protected eagle nest on the property,” the statement said. “No construction is permitted within 330 feet of the nest, making it unusable for Food Bank purposes.”

In the state of Pennsylvania, bald eagles are protected by the Game and Wildlife Code. While the national bird is no longer listed as endangered or threatened, it receives additional protection “through the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Protection Treaty Act,” according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission.

President and CEO of the York County Food BankJennifer Brillhart said this space would have made it easier to support an increasing number of community members.

On the first and third Tuesday of each month, the food bank distributes food at Living Word Community Church, 2530 Cape Horn Road, Red Lion.

“We are also looking to build warehouse space or renovate an existing warehouse so we don’t have to continue making trips with our trucks from the Church to our current space,” Brillhart said. “In a two-hour period, we normally see about 600 full car loads, but recently, that number has increased to 800.”

Brillhart also shared that the issue surrounding the Eagle’s Nest was something his real estate agents and even the people selling it had never experienced before, so the news came as a shock to everyone involved.

“We got very far in the process before we finally discovered that an eagle nest is in a protected category. Even our real estate agent and everyone else we hired, no one had experienced this before,” Brillhart said. “The land is 18 acres, so it was more than we needed, but there are some wetlands and other things on the property.”

The food bank hopes to relocate as it needs a much larger space to adequately serve the York County community. They are now seeking at least six acres of zoned or industrial land or about 35,000 square feet of warehouse and parking space.

The food bank hopes that people in the community will learn about other spaces in the area that suit them. Anyone with suggestions should contact [email protected] or 717-846-6435.