Is it illegal to kill a bald eagle?
Extremely illegal under multiple federal layers of environmental and criminal law.
Killing a bald eagle is a serious federal crime in the United States, regardless of intent or whether the bird was harming property. Federal law strictly prohibits the taking, killing, or possessing of bald eagles, including their feathers, nests, or eggs. Even accidental killings can lead to significant civil and criminal prosecution if deemed to be the result of negligence. While the bird was removed from the endangered species list in 2007, it retains some of the highest levels of legal protection of any animal in the country.
RELEVANT LAWS
- 16 U.S.C. § 668Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act
- 16 U.S.C. §§ 703–712Migratory Bird Treaty Act
- 50 CFR Part 22Eagle Permit Regulations
POTENTIAL PENALTIES
- Criminal fines of up to $100,000 for individuals
- Up to one year in federal prison for a first offense
- Felony charges with up to two years in prison for a second conviction
- Civil penalties involving forfeiture of equipment used in the act
JURISDICTION
While these are federal laws that apply nationwide, individual states often have additional conservation statutes that impose separate state-level fines and jail time.
It is illegal to even pick up a bald eagle feather you find on the ground; only enrolled members of federally recognized tribes can obtain permits for eagle parts.
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