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Laws Regarding Wildlife
The U.S. government has enacted numerous laws that have been put in place to protect our natural resources. Listed below are the laws of the United States regarding wildlife and describes the laws, including the penalties involved for those breaking them. Note that the fines for breaking these laws are additive.
Countries outside of the U.S. will have their own set of laws for wildlife protection. Contact the wildlife regulatory agency in your country to get information on specific laws and regulations.
The following information is provided by The Raptor Center, St. Paul, MN.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act
This Act, originally passed in 1918, provides protection for migratory birds. Under the Act, it is unlawful to take, import, export, possess, buy, sell, purchase, or barter any migratory bird. Feathers or other parts, nests, eggs, and products made from migratory birds are also covered by the Act. Take is defined as pursuing, hunting, shooting, poisoning, wounding, killing, capturing, trapping, or collecting.
The Endangered Species Act
Passed in 1973 and reauthorized in 1988, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulates a wide range of activities affecting plants and animals designated as endangered or threatened. By definition, "endangered species" is an animal or plant listed by regulation as being in danger of extinction. A "threatened species" is any animal or plant that is likely to become endangered within the forseeable future.
The Act prohibits the following activities involving endangered species:
Prohibitions apply to endangered species, their parts, and products. Most of these restrictions also apply to species listed as threatened unless the species qualifies for an exception. The Act also requires that wildlife be imported or exported through designated ports and that special declarations be filed. If the value of wildlife imported and/or exported is $25,000 per year or more, importers and exporters must be licensed.
The Eagle Protection Act
Bald Eagle protection began in 1940 with the passage of the Eagle Protection Act. Later amended to include the Golden Eagle, the Act makes it unlawful to import, export, take, sell, purchase, or barter any Bald Eagle or Golden Eagle, their parts, products, nests, or eggs. "Take" includes pursuing, shooting, poisoning, wounding, killing, capturing, trapping, collecting, molesting, or disturbing the eagles.
The Wild Bird Conservation Act
In 1992, the United States passed the Wild Bird Conservation Act. By October 1993, the law prohibited the import of all CITES-listed-birds (almost 1,000 species) except for those included in an approved list either by country of origin or wild-caught birds or by specific captive breeding facilities.
For wild-caught approved birds, a management plan that provides for conservation of the species and its habitat is required. In addition, it established a moratorium on trade of any non-Cites species. Exemptions include game birds and bird species indigenous to the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.
The Act establishes an Exotic Bird Conservation Fund, to be funded by penalties, fines, donations, and any additional appropriations. The Fund is to be used to assist exotic bird conservation projects in their native countries. Particular attention is given to species subject to an import moratorium or quota in order to assit those countries in developing and implementing conservation management programs, law enforcement programs, or both.
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