February 1, 2003
Subject: Native American Travel Overseas with Eagle Items
Background: For decades, the
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act prohibited anyone from
bringing eagles, eagle feathers, or eagle parts into or
out of the United States. The Act’s prohibitions applied
not only to commercial trade, but to any international movement
of eagles, including travel outside of the United States
by Native Americans with eagle items used in the practice
of their religion. No legal mechanism existed to facilitate
the international transport of these eagle articles.
Action: Effective September 1999,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduced eagle transport
permits to accommodate the religious and ceremonial needs
of enrolled members of U.S. federally recognized tribes
who want to travel overseas with their eagle parts and feathers.
Eagle transport permits make it legal under
the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for enrolled members
of U.S. federally recognized tribes to travel overseas with
their eagle items. With this authorization, enrolled tribal
members can now obtain the permits required under the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to
lawfully enter foreign countries with eagle items and avoid
having those items seized overseas.
Enrolled members of U.S. federally recognized
tribes who want to travel overseas with eagle items should
apply for an eagle transport permit before any travel by
contacting either the Service migratory bird office that
serves their home State or the Service’s Division
of Management Authority, which issues CITES permits.
Under Service policy, enrolled members of U.S.
federally recognized tribes who want to travel to Canada
or Mexico with their eagle items do not require an eagle
transport permit. See our public bulletin on Transport of
Eagle Items within North America.
Contact:
U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service
Office of Law Enforcement
703-358-1949 703-358-2271 (fax)
http://www.le.fws.gov |
U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service
Division of Management Authority
703-358-2095 703-358-2281 (fax)
703-358-2348 fax retrieval system
http://international.fws.gov |
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