The Real Reason Crows Are BANNED As Pets in Minnesota

You can own all sorts of strange and exotic animals in the state of Minnesota. In fact, you'd probably be shocked to find out exactly what your neighbors are keeping behind closed doors. Take a look at a few examples.

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That's right. As surprising as it may be to find out, hedgehogs, chinchillas, and yes, even sugar gliders are legal to keep as pets in the 'Land of Ten Thousand Lakes'. But there's one animal that you can absolutely NOT own as a pet in Minnesota, and the official reason why, just might be different than the ACTUAL reason why.

Believe it or not, crows are 100% banned as pets in Minnesota. And it's not just here. Crows are prohibited in every U.S. state as pets. But why? The bird seems pretty harmless, right? What could be the reason why the Federal Government wants to keep crows away from its citizens?

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918

Over 100 years ago, the MBTA was established, and it has been a Federal Law ever since. This makes it illegal to possess, import, export, transport, and purchase any migratory bird or their parts without a federal permit. While the American Crow doesn't migrate at the same rate as songbirds or waterfowl, it's still included in this law.

The law was initially passed due to the widespread killing of migratory birds in the late 1800s and early 1900s in the U.S., mainly for their feathers and for hunting purposes.

The major reason that intelligent birds (like crows) aren't allowed as pets is due to the fear of a black market springing up, along with the likelihood that individuals would remove chicks from the wild, endangering the local population.

However, there are some interesting conspiracies going around that theorize another reason the American Crow isn't allowed as a pet in the U.S.

According to Scientific American, the crow is widely regarded as the smartest bird on the planet.

The prevailing theory is that crows are so smart, they're too smart. And that if Americans were allowed to keep crows as pets, they would undoubtedly use them for illegal purposes, like stealing money, which is something that's already been done before.

Wanna learn more about just how smart the crow is and what it's capable of? Take a look at the YouTube video below.

Story Sources: Just Answer Website, Migratory Bird Act of 1918