Seagulls are protected under the “Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918”. This means that it is illegal to capture, kill, or keep a seagull in your home (unless you have a special permit).
So, no: you cannot go into the Meijer parking lot, yoink a seagull from the flock, and take it home.
This PSA has been brought to you by an argument with my son during a grocery pick-up.
Thank you.
raccoona_nongrata, 
deleted_by_author
SharkEatingBreakfast, 
Wild ducks are also protected.
Domestic ducks, however, if they are not owned by anyone, are free for the taking.
ivanafterall, 
Don't ducks migrate?
jayrodtheoldbod, They can absolutely kidnap you though
dingus182, 
This entire post has been a wonderful read. Thank you all, for the good work you do.
SharkEatingBreakfast, You’re welcome. Happy to contribute useful knowledge to the community. 👍
anachronist, Bird law in this country is not governed by reason.
cobra89, There’s nothing protecting pigeons though right? What about Canadian geese?
archomrade, You don’t mess with Canada Gooses. Those are Canada’s fuckin’ gooses.
survivalmachine, What about Canadian geese?
Regular geese with Canadian citizenship enjoy no special protections. Canada geese are protected, though if you’ve ever encountered one, you’d know that the protection is more for you than them.
randombullet, federalregister.gov/…/general-provisions-revised-…
Canada Goose is covered. Rock Dove is not.
RootBeerGuy, 
If you manage to wrestle Canadian geese into submission you might as well get to keep it.
SharkEatingBreakfast, Messing with Canada Geese is illegal.
Taking pigeons is apparently fine, as long as they do not belong to anyone else.
ivanafterall, Well, I'd like to see anyone stop me, cuz my living room full of seagulls begs to differ.
SharkEatingBreakfast, When the feds come to your door, they’re gonna hear all those seagulls.
lesbian_seagull, Goddamn RIGHT!
SharkEatingBreakfast, What if someone ask that you “come with me”, lesbian_seagull?
Nougat, What if they poke you in the coconut?
ivanafterall, That counts as consent.
theodewere, 
then the coconut has a pretty good case and should call a lawyer
Bo7a, This law brought to you by the seagullmen
WhereGrapesMayRule, So unfair. Meanwhile, if a flock of seagulls picks you up and flies away with you, there are no legal consequences for them whatsoever.
Infynis, 
This is their land, we just moved here
ivanafterall, Not entirely true. In bird culture, that is considered a dick move.
dumpsterlid, Unless the seagulls pick you up in a giant ass peach with the intention of freeing you from an abusive parent.
llamapants, However, if A Flock of Seagulls picked you up and took off with you, there WOULD be legal consequences.
SharkEatingBreakfast, I understand that this is upsetting, as I know many Michigan residents who have lost loved ones in the Seagull Wars.
However, seagull deterrents are legal, as long as it does not directly harm the birds themselves.
psycho_driver, So unfair. Meanwhile, if a flock of seagulls picks you up and flies away with you, there are no legal consequences for them whatsoever.
A human would probably be too heavy for a flock of seagulls to fly away with. They’d be more likely to run so far away with you.
BleakBluets, 
A human would probably be too heavy for a flock of seagulls to fly away with.
Perhaps too heavy for Herring Gulls, but they could be carried by Great Black-Backed Gulls.
Rozz, Perhaps if they were to put you on a line between them
Seleni, I really feel there’s a coconut joke in here somewhere
anachronist, Seagulls have no respect for the law. i.makeagif.com/media/2-19-2018/aP6IRw.gif
zero_spelled_with_an_ecks, (edited ) Almost happened to me once, but then I ran. I ran so far away. I just ran, I ran all night and day.
WhereGrapesMayRule, It’s not so bad, really. From up here, Aurora borealis comes in view
Add comment