Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 24, June 15, 2024
(a) Cage construction shall be sufficiently strong to contain the wildlife and to protect the animal from injury from other specimens on exhibit. Caging determined unsafe by Commission personnel shall be reconstructed as directed. Reconstruction shall be completed and approved within 30 days after official notification from the Commission.(b) Except as provided in subsection (c), wildlife may not be removed from cages or directly exposed to the public. Safety barriers shall be present to adequately prevent the wildlife from touching, grasping or biting visitors. Barriers, such as walls, fences, moats, retaining rails and other necessary devices shall be present to prevent the public from approaching cages, pens, enclosures or areas near enough to contact the wildlife.(c) Removal of wildlife from cages and public human contact with the following categories of wildlife is authorized only as follows:(1)Category 1 wildlife. Ruminant animals may be moved from cages or confinement and directly exposed to the public, specifically to include public human contact, without restriction.(2)Category 2 wildlife. Other wildlife not defined as Category 3 wildlife in paragraph (3), may be removed from cages or confinement and directly exposed to the public, specifically to include public human contact, only if the wildlife is under the immediate control of the handler to preclude danger to the public.(3)Category 3 wildlife. Public human contact is not authorized for non-human primates and members of the families Ursidae, Felidae and Canidae. Members of the families Ursidae, Felidae and Canidae may not be removed from cages or confinement or directly exposed to the public.The provisions of this § 147.282 adopted June 19, 1987, effective 7/1/1987, 17 Pa.B. 2464.Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 53, No. 23. June 10, 2023, effective 6/10/2023The provisions of this § 147.282 issued under The Game Law (34 P. S. §§ 1311.101-1311.1502) (Repealed); and the Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S. §§ 101-2965.