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.
There’s nothing protecting pigeons though right? What about Canadian geese?
If you manage to wrestle Canadian geese into submission you might as well get to keep it.
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.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/07/31/2023-15551/general-provisions-revised-list-of-migratory-birds
Canada Goose is covered. Rock Dove is not.
You don’t mess with Canada Gooses. Those are Canada’s fuckin’ gooses.
Messing with Canada Geese is illegal.
Taking pigeons is apparently fine, as long as they do not belong to anyone else.