Is it illegal to scare a pigeon in Massachusetts? You could face jail time

[Desmond Milligan 0]

Don’t sneak up on a pigeon in Massachusetts – you could go to jail.

It’s true: a law over 250 years old prohibits frightening pigeons or face jail time or a fine.

It’s one of many antiquated laws still on the books in Massachusetts that may no longer pertain to modern life. Others include a ban on cursing at sports games and a fine for publicly butchering the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Luckily, these days you're unlikely to be prosecuted for those offenses.

A boy plays with pigeons at Murillo Square in La Paz on August 16, 2025.

What is the law against scaring pigeons?

Section 132, Chapter 266 of the Massachusetts General Laws bans purposely killing or frightening pigeons from someone else’s trap or net.

Violators of the law could be subject to imprisonment of up to a month or a fine of up to $20 and would be liable for any damages to the owner of the traps.

The law no longer makes much sense in current day, but  Massachusetts Historical Society librarian and Chief Historian Peter Drummey told BU Today in 2014 that the law was applicable when it was passed in 1848, as pigeons were used then for food and for target shooting. He called it a “sort of hunter-trapper protection law.”

While this law may now be obsolete, Massachusetts still has laws protecting hunting rights.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Is it illegal in MA to scare a pigeon? You could face jail time

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