Why Owning a Single Loon Feather Is Illegal in Minnesota

Picking up a beautiful loon feather during a stroll around one of our 10,000 Lakes might seem like the perfect Minnesota souvenir, but it could actually lead to a run-in with federal agents. Before you display that feather on your mantel, you’ll want to see why the law says that even a single loon feather could cost you a ton of money and maybe even a stint in the clink!

Most of us are probably familiar with the law that makes it illegal to possess a feather from a bald eagle, right? (Specifically, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 prohibits the possession of eagle feathers by non-Native Americans. And anyone convicted of violating the law could face a fine of up to $100,000 and a year in jail!)

The Federal Law Protecting Minnesota’s Native Birds

But did you know that possessing feathers from other birds common to Minnesota-- like, say, our state bird, the common loon, is ALSO illegal here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? It's true, and it's all detailed in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918.

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According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the MBTA states:

The possession of feathers and other parts of native North American birds without a permit is prohibited by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This protects wild birds by preventing their killing by collectors and the commercial trade in their feathers, and extends to all feathers, regardless of how they were obtained.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also says you could still be in big trouble even if you found one of those feathers on the ground, too, noting 'There is no exemption for molted feathers or those taken from road or window-killed birds.'

Why It's Illegal to Keep Common Loon Feathers

So why is our state bird on the list? According to AllAboutBirds.com, it's all because the common loon is, in fact, a migratory bird. It spends its winters along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina south to Florida or on the Gulf of Mexico before heading north here to Minnesota in the spring.

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

Any person, association, partnership, or corporation who shall violate any provisions of said conventions or of this subchapter, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any regulation made pursuant to this subchapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than $15,000 or be imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

Fines and Penalties for Illegal Feather Possession in MN

A fine of $15,000 and six months in the clink?!? Geez, the MBTA doesn't mess around! And, of course, the MBTA doesn't only apply to common loons, either. You can check the full list of protected birds (including some of which are common to Minnesota) HERE.

And birds aren't the only animals that can get you in trouble. Did you know there's an entire list of furry and feathered creatures you can't legally own here in Rochester? Keep scrolling to see which animals they are!