Publication

The United States has many laws that protect wildlife from harm. This report will discuss three: the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Endangered Species Act (ESA), for example, prohibits actions that harass, harm, wound, or kill a listed species (meaning either a species listed as threatened or endangered). The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibits actions that harass or kill marine mammals. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) makes it unlawful “by any means or in any manner” to take, kill, or attempt to take or kill “any migratory bird, any part, nest, or egg of any such bird.”