What Happens If You’re Caught With An Eagle Feather In Minnesota!

It could cost you big time if you get caught with an Eagle feather in the state of Minnesota.

Let's say you were walking along a lake shore in Minnesota and found the feather of a Bald or Golden Eagle.

Do you think you could pick it up and keep it?

You can see Eagles flying and nesting in many parts of Minnesota.

Eagles overwinter by the hundreds in eastern Minnesota along the Mississippi River.

If you've camped in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness no doubt you've seen Eagles feeding on discarded fish parts by a canoeing angler.

What would happen if you found a few feathers along the water's edge and decided to keep them as a souvenir?

It could cost you thousands of dollars and even jail time!

According to the U.S. Gish & Wildlife Service... “The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act enacted in 1940 prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from "taking" bald or golden eagles, including their parts (including feathers), nests, or eggs.

The Act provides criminal penalties for persons who "take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, offer to sell, transport, export or import, at any time or any manner, any bald eagle ... [or any golden eagle], alive or dead, or any part (including feathers), nest, or egg thereof."

A violation of the Act can result in a fine of $100,000 ($200,000 for organizations), imprisonment for one year, or both, for a first offense.

Penalties increase substantially for additional offenses, and a second violation of this Act is a felony.”

If you do happen to come across a dead Eagle or other parts you are asked to contact your nearest wildlife official.