Birds of prey for pets?

Question

My best friend loves birds of prey like hawks and falcons, and I was wondering if there are laws against having one as a pet? I'm sure there are. But just a question. Oh Btw, We live in Virginia.

Answer 1

Actually, it really is legal to own a falcon IF one is a falconer, since people generally captive breed birds instead of taking them from the wild it doesn't matter that their wild relatives are endangered because you aren't depleting the wild population. However becoming a falconer and training falcons is not only very difficult, it requires that the person has a federal license saying that they can keep birds of prey and serve a two-year apprenticeship under a master falconer, among other things.

But a falcon cannot be kept as a housepet the way that, say, a parrot can; their low intelligence, coupled with a predatory nature and sharp beak and claws, make it unsafe to get comfortable with one the way you could a parrot.

Answer 2

Yes, It's against the law to own a Hawk or Falcon, ;etc, They can hurt you by the way if they are scared or something.I'd suggest she gets a pet more like a Lovebird.

HOPED I HELPED =]]

Answer 3

No it`s illegal,their protected by the federal law..

Unless you a native american you can`t even possess a feather from one.....trust me I know!!

Answer 4

Not normally(only with special permits...but not a real pet it will always be a wild animal) but she could volunteer to work with wild life rehab groups that rehabilitate injured animals like hawks and then release them back into the wild...this is very cool!!!! If she ever wants a real "legal" pet bird though...I am a small breeder in Va.

Answer 5

most are endangered, so yes, it is illegal more than likely.  hope this helps.

Answer 6

Yea its illegal right now. Wait till the population goes up. As long as people still exist in this world all of our animals will go extinct by 2020.

Answer 7

No offense meant, but if you are unsure, you really don't need a pet such as this.  They are very special creatures that require very special care.  Many species of birds are endangered or protected, so they usually have very strick rules about housing of these types of birds.  Normally only rescue organizations and refuges, and zoos are permitted to house these animals.  Search for your states dept. of Wildlife, and check into the rules.  A few bird species are legal to own as pets in a few states, but even then, they are usually considered exotic pets, and have even more guidlines, such as permits.  And lots of states, and even you local town govt. may have laws prohibiting keeping birds of prey as pets.  If you find out it is legal, please do intense research before getting one.  They are usually expensive to purchase, and not all vets will treat exotic pets.  They are extremely powerful animals, and do not easily give their trust.  They must be interacted with daily.  Additionally, they are very difficult (not to mention expensive) to feed.  They housing is also very important, and usually very expensive.  Birds of prey would not be happy with small accomodations, so large, sturdy  enclosures are necessary.  And cleaning up after them is pretty messy, and time consuming.  They are truly magnificant species.  Hope this helps.