BajaNomad - Bringing bones home to U.S.

Bringing bones home to U.S.

joel - 4-7-2010 at 07:45 AM

My kids have found some great bones on the beach. Sea lion, something we can't figure out and a whale vertebra. Anyone know if there is a problem with taking them from Mexico or bringing them into the U.S.?

mtgoat666 - 4-7-2010 at 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by joel
My kids have found some great bones on the beach. Sea lion, something we can't figure out and a whale vertebra. Anyone know if there is a problem with taking them from Mexico or bringing them into the U.S.?

well, don't let mexican govt see you taking the bones or critters from the beach. don't know if the mex army inspectors are enforcing those laws.

and you can't legally posess most whale bones in US, because of ESA or MMPA. US customs will confiscate things if they think they are bones of protected marine mammals.

small bones and sea shells prob fly under radar, but big whale bones, who knows?

[Edited on 4-7-2010 by mtgoat666]

larryC - 4-7-2010 at 07:57 AM

If they are from a protected species then the customs people are supposed to sieze them. I have brought whale bones back and when asked at the border what I was bringing from Mexico I recited my list and "some bones I found on the beach". He then just waved me through. That might work for you. If it doesn't then at least you declared them. See what happens.
Larry

David K - 4-7-2010 at 08:20 AM

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Originally posted by mtgoat666

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We took two like this, sun bleached,... brought them home in plain view, across the border, in my truck.

[Edited on 4-7-2010 by David K]

Mulegena - 4-7-2010 at 09:45 AM

Related information to consider:
We once brought 25 kilos of seashells north for a friend who had collected them here in Baja. We went to the Tecate crossing. We were sent to secondary and told that greater than 1 kilo of shells appeared as if we were bringing them in for commercial purposes-- not illegal. However, we were advised that we would have to turn around and go back to the Otay crossing where we would have to pay US import duties on them... we chose to abandon the shells. Live and Learn.

durrelllrobert - 4-7-2010 at 10:09 AM

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Originally posted by mtgoat666

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and you can't legally posess most whale bones in US, because of ESA or MMPA. US customs will confiscate things if they think they are bones of protected marine mammals.

And you can't bring any kind of antlers into the US from Canada even though deer, elk' moose etc. are not protected species in either country

monoloco - 4-7-2010 at 01:14 PM

They can't be too careful, you never know if a gringo with whale bones found them on the beach or harpooned the whale and rendered it out. I have heard that musicians with vintage guitars have had trouble bringing them back in the country because they were made with Brazilian rosewood which is on the CITES list.

htnfool - 4-7-2010 at 02:04 PM

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Originally posted by durrelllrobert

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Originally posted by mtgoat666

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and you can't legally posess most whale bones in US, because of ESA or MMPA. US customs will confiscate things if they think they are bones of protected marine mammals.

And you can't bring any kind of antlers into the US from Canada even though deer, elk' moose etc. are not protected species in either country

Not True,

You can absolutely bring antlers from Canada to the U.S. If you have the proper documentation that they were harvested legally. A used tag is all you need.

As far as Mexico is concerned, I brought several mule deer sheds and 2 skulls with antlers across the border in full view of the border agents, who just commented on them. They were obviously old sheds and skulls.
But nice old pieces of choya (sp?) are not allowed back into the U.S. Had a couple of beauties that had washed up on the beach near Mag Bay, still a little bummed about that.

Dave - 4-7-2010 at 02:06 PM

I always carry receipts for large ticket items, musical equipment, etc. yet never declare them. The Rules state: "Declare all items acquired outside the U.S."

I once brought a trailer full of household items across. Said..."nothing to declare." The inspector asked about the trailer and was told all items were purchased in the U.S.

Zipped right through.

ursidae69 - 4-7-2010 at 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
We took two like this, sun bleached,... brought them home in plain view, across the border, in my truck.
[Edited on 4-7-2010 by David K]

That doesn't mean it was legal David.

Udo - 4-7-2010 at 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave
I always carry receipts for large ticket items, musical equipment, etc. yet never declare them. The Rules state: "Declare all items acquired outside the U.S."

I once brought a trailer full of household items across. Said..."nothing to declare." The inspector asked about the trailer and was told all items were purchased in the U.S.

Zipped right through.

On two different occasions (once in Tecate, and once in Otay) I was told by the border agent that once US purchased products were brought into a foreign country, they lost their citizenship and had to be declared anyway.
I guess it depends on the inspector's point of view.

ligui - 4-8-2010 at 07:56 AM

I like to see whale bones on the beach , wish people would leave them . :?:

durrelllrobert - 4-8-2010 at 08:58 AM

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Not True,

You can absolutely bring antlers from Canada to the U.S. If you have the proper documentation that they were harvested legally. A used tag is all you need.

Sorry, I was refering to antlers found in the field (like whale bones on the beach) not from a freshly killed animal :yes:

doradodan - 4-8-2010 at 01:00 PM

was exploring around gonzaga about 10yrs ago and found a rams skull record size. through it in an empty cooler and brought it back home to the states, i had it displayed in my living room and one day a guy I know who is a trophy hunter said that posessing that thing without a tag is an automatic 10,000dlr fine in mexico, guess i got lucky.

htnfool - 4-8-2010 at 02:21 PM

I got an opportunity to buy an old Bighorn rams skull from a local, don't now when it was killed, but he also said that it was a huge fine and probably jail if I got caught with them in Baja. I passed on the deal. Not that it was shady one.

I didn't want to spend another night in jail after eating that golden grouper that Scarecrow caught the other day in Mulege. :lol:

bajagrouper - 4-10-2010 at 04:13 PM

Last month while crossing the border I had a deer skull with antlers that were at least 40 years old and given to me by and old farmer taken away, customs said I needed a permit from Mexico City to bring it into the USA, and I had to sign a statement that I was giving it up voluntarily and did not know it was illegal to remove from MX without the permit...

Cardon Man - 4-10-2010 at 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajagrouper
Last month while crossing the border I had a deer skull with antlers that were at least 40 years old and given to me by and old farmer taken away, customs said I needed a permit from Mexico City to bring it into the USA, and I had to sign a statement that I was giving it up voluntarily and did not know it was illegal to remove from MX without the permit...

What a joke. Are there not more pressing issues to focus on? Our tax dollars hard at work.

ursidae69 - 4-10-2010 at 08:57 PM

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Originally posted by Cardon Man

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What a joke. Are there not more pressing issues to focus on? Our tax dollars hard at work.

While the merit of this siezure could be debated, I disagree that it is a joke. There are various treaties and agreements we (The USA) have with other nations concerning illegal trade of protected species and our border enforcement needs to do a better job of things and not take it lightly. Just my opinion.

David K - 4-10-2010 at 09:06 PM

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Originally posted by ligui
I like to see whale bones on the beach , wish people would leave them . :?:

Really? Great... I took and shared the photos so you and EVERYONE else on the Internet also could see them.

Of the 2 dozen or so other bones in the one skelaton we left there, just took two... and the next trip, the remains were all gone... to the tide and / or wind. So, those entire whale skelatons we see on display in various Baja locations are visible for education and enjoyment because they were removed... otherwise, Nature would have taken them back out to sea or buried under the sand.

bajaguy - 4-10-2010 at 09:12 PM

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Originally posted by David K
... otherwise, Nature would have taken them back out to sea or buried under the sand.

As it should be

David K - 4-10-2010 at 09:31 PM

Yes, you are right... How dare we humans take from Nature things like rocks, shells, bones to decorate our yards or make a museum for others to enjoy! You should see all the stuff I don't take... :biggrin:

mtgoat666 - 4-11-2010 at 06:22 AM

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Originally posted by David K

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Originally posted by ligui
I like to see whale bones on the beach , wish people would leave them . :?:

classic DK. gave me my daily chuckle.

ligui - 4-11-2010 at 06:47 AM

DK , was only saying it's nice to see nature as it is , didn't mean to hit a sore spot .

bajagrouper - 4-11-2010 at 07:59 AM

It wasn't a jaguar skull, I had to call US Fish & Game when I got home and the officer stated it was a "white tail deer", and not on anyone's endangered list........

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Originally posted by ursidae69

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Originally posted by Cardon Man

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What a joke. Are there not more pressing issues to focus on? Our tax dollars hard at work.

David K - 4-11-2010 at 08:53 AM

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Originally posted by ligui
DK , was only saying it's nice to see nature as it is , didn't mean to hit a sore spot .

No offense Ligui... nothing personal on my end either... Just think of it as balance, and in good fun. Have a great Sunday amigo! :bounce:

Martyman - 4-11-2010 at 09:39 AM

I have a whale vertbrae and a coupla' intervertebral discs for my phone table at home. Quite the conversation piece.

durrelllrobert - 4-11-2010 at 09:47 AM

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Originally posted by bajagrouper
the officer stated it was a "white tail deer", and not on anyone's endangered list........[quote
my point exactly ... whether it the Mexican or Canadian border :yes: