Legislators Call for Use of Wildlife Rehabilitators

by Sherry Morse

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has unanimously passed a resolution calling for the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) to use licensed wildlife rehabilitators to care for injured and/or orphaned wild animals.

"Pennsylvania’s wildlife rehabilitators are licensed and trained in the proper handling, treatment and release protocols for any animals brought to them for care," said Fund for Animals Cruelty Caseworker P.J. McKosky. "It only makes sense for the PGC to utilize this important resource that is available to them."

The resolution, which gives the Commission until December 31, 2003 to investigate the use of rehabilitators and report back to the House Game and Fisheries Committee, was prompted by the recent leaking of a PGC internal memorandum indicating that members of the public should be instructed to leave orphaned animals alone and they should in some cases be killed in order to prevent suffering.

"The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has demonstrated its commitment to the humane treatment of orphaned and injured wildlife," said Fund for Animals National Director Heidi Prescott. "However, until the PGC adopts the new policy, we are still encouraging citizens who find orphaned wildlife to call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator directly to ensure that the animals are not unnecessarily killed."

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.