Can I keep something I found in the river in PA?

-I found a buoy floating down the river and I wanted to know if anyone knows whether I can keep it. They are worth $200+ and I was going to use it at my boat dock, I am not sure who it belongs too. The way I look at it is that I helped clean up the river a little, but I am not sure if in PA whether or not I have to report it to the police or not.I second the idea that if it's a navigation marker you shouldn't keep it. They're typically red, green or the numbered speed limit kind. Private mooring buoys are typically round or cone-shaped and typically painted white (usually with a name on them).



You'd probably be best served asking the local police force that covers that body of water. If it's an official marker they can handle it. And likely be able to tell you if it isn't. Like a lot of found property there may be a waiting period for claiming it. The cops hold onto it for a while (typically 90 days) and if nobody claims it in that time it's usually returned to you.



Think about how you'd want someone else to handle returning your buoy if YOU lost it.If it is a marker buoy of any type, you should report it to the marine police. If it's a mooring buoy, of the type used to moor boats, I'd say keep it.