Owning These Bird Feathers is Illegal Here in Minnesota

Did you know that just possessing a feather from sure species of birds could land you in jail in Minnesota?

Most of us are most likely acquainted with the legislation that makes it unlawful to possess a feather from a bald eagle, appropriate? (Specially, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 prohibits the possession of eagle feathers by non-Native Americans. And everyone convicted of violating the legislation could deal with a fantastic of up to $100,000 and a calendar year in jail!)

But did you know that possessing feathers from other birds widespread to Minnesota– like, say, our point out chook, the common loon, is ALSO illegal below in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? It’s genuine, and it’s all specific in the Migratory Chicken Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918.

In accordance to the US Fish and Wildlife Company, the MBTA states:

The possession of feathers and other parts of native North American birds with out a permit is prohibited by the Migratory Chook Treaty Act. This shields wild birds by avoiding their killing by collectors and the business trade in their feathers, and extends to all feathers, no matter of how they were attained. There is no exemption for molted feathers or individuals taken from street or window-killed birds.

And, in accordance to AllAboutBirds.com, the common loon is, in reality, a migratory fowl. It spends its winters alongside the Atlantic coastline from North Carolina south to Florida or on the Gulf of Mexico prior to heading north below to Minnesota in the spring.

This implies if you happen to have a loon feather in your possession, you could be issue to some critical punishment. The MBTA also states that:

Any person, association, partnership, or company who shall violate any provisions of stated conventions or of this subchapter, or who shall violate or fall short to comply with any regulation produced pursuant to this subchapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not a lot more than $15,000 or be imprisoned not a lot more than six months, or each.

A high-quality of $15,000 and six months in the clink?!? Geez, the MBTA does not mess around! And, of course, the MBTA will not only utilize to widespread loons, either. You can verify the complete list of secured birds (like some of which are prevalent to Minnesota) Listed here.

And birds are not the only animals that can get you in trouble. Did you know there is certainly an whole checklist of furry and feathered creatures you can’t legally individual in this article in Rochester? Preserve scrolling to see which animals they are!

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