The law is the law, Pennsylvania game commissioners said Tuesday, in reference to the recent confiscation of a small songbird that an Elizabethtown woman had rescued and kept illegally as a pet for four years.
Pati Mattrick and a handful of supporters had criticized the Game Commission on Monday during a public comment period at the commissioners' quarterly meeting.
At the second half of their meeting on Tuesday, the commissioners issued this statement: "While the Board of Commissioners were touched by Mrs. Mattrick's testimony concerning the confiscation of the finch, the law remains clear on the subject of removing birds and mammals from the wild. Whether the species involved is a bear cub, raccoon, white-tailed deer, fawn or finch, the law makes no distinction.
"The Board of Commissioners would like to assure Mrs. Mattrick and her friends that the finch is alive and being cared for by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator."
State and federal laws prohibit making pets of protected wildlife.
At a question-and-answer session for the media after the meeting, the board members were asked if they felt that confiscation was the only recourse in the case and whether they felt the matter was properly handled.
Commission board President Jay Delaney answered by referring to the prepared statement. Commissioners were invited to make personal observations, but none chose to.
It is not known whether human imprinting can be erased and the finch can be released back to the wild, as Game Commission officials said they preferred, or whether it will remain in captivity, perhaps to be used for educational purposes.