Two ear-tagged deer found wandering in Elk County tested negative for chronic wasting disease.
Bob Frye/Everybody Adventures
So there’s news of the two ear-tagged tagged whitetails the Pennsylvania Game Commission found wandering loose near Ridgway in Elk County recently.
Testing showed that neither had chronic wasting disease. That’s a good thing.
But the bad?
Both were originally wild deer. They were taken into captivity illegally.
According to the commission, a 56-year old man pleaded guilty on Aug. 16 to two counts of disturbing wildlife after reporting he’d handled the deer. He was not identified by name.
But, he admitted both were wild and he tagged them in separate years while they were fawns.
The commission levied fines and costs totaled $2,120.
“It is unlawful in Pennsylvania to pick up, take into captivity or otherwise disturb wildlife, or release any deer into the wild. Doing so can result in stiff penalties, including imprisonment,” reads a commission statement.
The ear-tagged deer were euthanized on July 26 in Ridgway Township. The fear was that they might have been escaped, pen-raised deer that were sick.
“Because of the risk escaped or released captive deer or elk could spread chronic wasting disease to areas where the disease has not been detected in the wild, Game Commission protocol authorizes wildlife conservation officers to shoot free-ranging ear-tagged deer they encounter,” the commission said.
The tags on these deer in particular did not match any the commission uses in its research. That made them suspect and led to their being killed.
Results of genetic tests being done to learn more about their bloodlines are pending.
See an odd or ear-tagged deer?
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the commission at 570-398-4744 or 570-398-4745.
And if you encounter something similar elsewhere? To report ear-tagged deer encountered in the wild, call the Game Commission office serving that region.
