TO THE EDITORS:
I think the Game Commission should hide their faces in shame for seizing that finch from the good Samaritan, for saving and raising that finch. It was an act of God that she would save a creature of God's.
You would think they would have more important things to do
Leroy Weidman
Leola
TO THE EDITORS:
Heartless and no compassion! That is all I can say about the actions of the game commission on taking away the finch from Pati Mattrick. I don't care what rules and policies and procedures they say they are following, there was a more humane and compassionate course of action they could have taken. They chose not to.
I am an outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman and know about the interaction of mankind and nature. There is room for both and common sense to get there.
Taking away this finch from "her" mother was like tearing a child away from its family. I am saddened for Pati Mattrick's loss and hope she will be reunited with "Stormygirl". And those that can help her will do what they can to correct this unloving act.
Matthew J Stewart
Lancaster
TO THE EDITORS:
So the Game Commission decided to make an example of Pati Mattrick and her rescue of house finch, "Stormy Girl". After being told by wild life rehabilitators that the finch could not live, Pati nursed it to health and has kept it safe for four happy years. Considering the Game Commission's prior actions toward citizens helping wildlife (reference the albino deer story), I question its interpretation of the law, for it's apparent acceptance of others keeping wildlife for sport, money, or entertainment. The Game Commission made a poor example of itself by appearing at the
Mattrick's door — without warning, and accompanied by an armed policeman — for seizure of the house finch!
Marge Jones
Lancaster
TO THE EDITORS:
Little did we know that we have at our disposal the means to eliminate the illegal gun and drug problem in this country....just put the PA State Game Commission in charge and it apears that nothing will escape them.
After reading the article about the wild bird seizure, I was very upset, especially in the manner in which the bird was taken. It appears that two lessons are learned from this incident; one, that the newspaper, sadly, can never publish an inspirational or "feel good" article about wildlife for fear of negative ramifications and secondly, where the poor couple and bird are concerned, as the saying goes "no kind deed goes unpunished".
Hopefully, someone with authority will intervene and resolve this situation by relaxing the rules and returning the bird to Pati Mattrick.
Patricia Keller
East Hempfield Township
TO THE EDITORS:
The Pennsylvania Game Commission seized a pet bird from an Elizabethtown woman who had saved it four years earlier after it fell from a nest in her yard.
Taking the house finch from the wild and making it a pet violates a state law as well a federal law that protects migratory birds, the Game Commission said.
When a story, titled "The miracle bird," on how the bird's rescue had changed the woman's life was featured this week in a story in the Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era, the agency was forced to act, said Jerry Feaser, Game Commission spokesman.
The Game Commission obtained a search warrant, and a wildlife conservation officer, accompanied by an Elizabethtown Borough policeman, showed up unannounced at the home of Pati Mattrick around 9 a.m.
The bird was taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, where it will be determined if the bird can be conditioned to survive in the wild and released, if possible, Feaser said."
I sincerely hope that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is proud of their work on this matter.
Personally, I'm dumbfounded that they devoted the taxpayer funded time and resources on such an issue. I would have hoped that they had more important things with which to consume their services.
Clearly, this agency has too much time on their hands combined with a management model that lacks a credible sense of priority.
As a retired US Army manager and Commonwealth employee, perhaps it's time to thin the herd at the management levels of our state agencies.
K. T. Spaulding
Houston, TX
TO THE EDITORS:
I was outraged by the raid that was conducted last week in E-town, by Pennsylvania Game Commission agents, accompanied by borough police. Don't the Police have something better to do, rather than terrorize a kind woman who was simply caring for a bird that she rescued?
And just what kind of a dangerous, wild animal was Ms. Mattrick harboring? A venomous snake? A ferocious mountain lion? No... A finch. Thank God, the State seized it in time, because everyone knows that songbirds pose a serious threat to our entire community.
Some questions for Jerry Feaser and the Game Commission: Ever read the Constitution? Does the term "unreasonable search and seizure" mean anything to you, Jerry?
The State Game Commission and the Elizabethtown Borough police should be ashamed of themselves. And if the police are going to conduct what amount to home invasions, then perhaps they should consider donning some Waffen-SS uniforms. This way, they next time they choose to act like a bunch of jack-booted storm troopers; at least they will be dressed appropriately.
Lastly, I think it is high time that someone looked into just what the Game Commission has been up to; this is not the first time they have acted inappropriately.
Christopher J. Pitera
Marietta
TO THE EDITORS:
Maybe those bird Nazis' should change their job position to policing puppy mills. Then they would legitimately earn the salaries we pay them.
Oh, by the way, I'm feeding a baby robin. Come and get me!
Cinthia K. Rathvon
Lancaster
TO THE EDITORS:
The problem in this case is the law, which is too broadly written. As an artist I have an interest in this. Recently dead birds are the best models for learning to draw and paint birds accurately. If, say, a downy woodpecker was to mistake my window for the sky, and dive into it, thereby killing itself, and I were to witness this, I would drop what I was doing, collect the bird and put it in the freezer to keep for when I would have time to take it out and study it. This is (more or less) how artists have learned birds since forever, but it is now illegal under the same law. Just to be clear, I do not have any illegal birds in my freezer!
For Pati Mattrick's sake I hope they can find room for 'discretion in enforcement', but I wish our lawmakers would lose the habit of writing laws without considering all of the implications and possible consequences. You can't put all the burden on the agencies responsible for enforcing the law to act in a reasonable way if the law is not reasonable. People who support these kinds of protection laws (and just about all reasonable people do) need to realize that the most strongly-worded law is not always the best law if it makes criminals of ordinary, well-intentioned citizens doing reasonable things.
Barry Root
Quarryville
TO THE EDITORS:
I have hit upon the perfect solution to both the Stormygirl injustice and the illegal immigration problem. Simply send the Pa. Game Commission with their "the law is the law, no exceptions" mentality, down to patrol our borders.
Illegal immigration would immediately cease, and a very sad and frightened bird could be returned to the only home she's ever known. Something is drastically wrong when the government can forcefully remove a healthy and happy bird from someone who loves her and actually cares about the bird's happiness.
This government agency didn't care that the bird was stressed and terrified. They have let power go to their heads and, I believe, should be forcefully removed from their jobs.
Sherry Tice
Providence Township
TO THE EDITORS:
Ms. Mattrick did the initial "saving", but did not "finish" the job. That's wrong. Just plain wrong.
I believe most rehabilitators have a very hard time giving up these "saved" creatures when it is time to let them go - but it's the only way. Responsibility is the hardest thing we have to deal with.
Ms. Mattrick could have REALLY shown love for the animal (perhaps helping herself along the way, or not, since HER "saving" was not the point ) by continuing her research and expanding her own knowledge, to continue looking for a rehabilitator or even attempting to get her own "credentials", and be part of an equitable solution for the finch. Instead, she continued to compound the problem of the finch.
Mr. Crable, and Lancaster Newspapers, deserve our thanks for bringing this to our attention - intentionally, or not.
A sad situation, but preventable ONLY by the instigator, Ms. Mattrick. There is still plenty of time for all-around wonderful results to occur. The animal MUST be released, if at all possible. In this instance, Ms. Mattrick's needs and desires are secondary. The wild finch comes first.
But it is to be hoped that Ms. Mattrick finds it in her heart to "release" the animal, as well. Responsibility is tough.
Ms. Mattrick, it sounds like more rehabilitators are needed. It sounds like you may have at least the initial qualifications. One thing you need to learn is to finish the job. The ball is in your court.
Jesse T. "Teddy G." Genevish, Jr.
Lititz