From staff reports
HARRISBURG – The investigation into the origin of two ear-tagged deer euthanized recently in Elk County has resulted in a conviction, the Pennsylvania Game Commission said Thursday.
A 56-year-old Ridgway man pleaded guilty last week to two counts of disturbing wildlife after reporting he’d handled the deer, saying both were wild and he tagged them in separate years while they were fawns, according to the Game Commission. Fines and costs totaled $2,120.
The ear-tagged deer were euthanized July 26 in Ridgway Township, Elk County. While the Game Commission uses ear tags in its research, the agency’s tags differ in appearance from the tags commonly used on deer farms. 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, the Game Commission said its protocol authorizes wildlife conservation officers to shoot free-ranging ear-tagged deer they encounter.
Both deer euthanized July 26 tested negative for chronic wasting disease. The results from genetic tests performed to learn more about the deer’s bloodlines are pending, according to the Game Commission.