Meteorites Found in Canada Cannot Be Removed From the Country Without Permit

Scientists from Western University and NASA display some meteorites during a press conference in St.Thomas, Ont., on March 21, 2014. The Canadian Press/Geoff Robins

Catch a falling star if you can, and by all means put it in your pocket, but don’t try to cross international borders with it lest you run afoul of a little−known Canadian law.

An American museum will have to navigate that law’s intricacies should it try to buy portions of a meteorite believed to have landed in New Brunswick last month.