Pa. Game Commission: No charges filed yet in deer rescue at Pinchot State Park

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has released a statement in response to a recent deer rescue at Pinchot State Park. John Stoll Jr., 54, said he was told by state officials that he would be fined for taking and keeping a rescued deer in his garage.

Stoll helped personnel from the Game Commission, Wellsville Fire Department and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources lead at least three deer that fell through some ice back onto the bank. The deer were reportedly stuck in the water for hours before they were rescued Saturday afternoon.

More:He tried to save deer stuck in frigid lake; now he faces fines for caring for it in garage

Stoll brought one of the deer back to his home in hopes of keeping it warm, but it ultimately died Sunday morning. 

On Monday afternoon, a Game Commission warden told him that he would be fined for taking and keeping the deer in his garage. 

Stoll said he was told that there are two fines he could get and one could be up to $800.

More:Deer God, why would the Game Commission fine a man who tried to save a freezing buck? (editorial)

The incident set off a firestorm of debate on whether Stoll's actions should have warranted a fine. 

The Game Commission's said late Thursday afternoon that the incident remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed.

Here is the release in its entirety: 

HARRISBURG, PA -- In response to the recent incident that took place at Gifford Pinchot State Park, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reminds the public that wildlife cannot be taken from the wild. Under Pennsylvania law, it is illegal to take or possess wildlife. These laws were put in place to protect both wildlife and humans.

On Saturday, Jan. 12, several deer were seen stuck in a partially-frozen lake at Gifford Pinchot State Park. Personnel from the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Wellsville Fire Department and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources assisted in rescuing at least three deer from the ice.

One of the deer was removed from the area by a member of the public. The Game Commission officials who were on the scene were not made aware of the deer’s whereabouts until pictures appeared on social media later that night. The deer died at the home of the individual on Sunday morning.

The situation remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed at this time.

“People want to help wildlife that appear to be in trouble, but what they often don’t realize is that when they attempt to intervene they are making the situation worse by putting the wild animal under significant stress,” said Matthew Schnupp, the Game Commission’s wildlife management director. “Leaving such an animal alone is the best, most caring thing you can do for it.”

Proper Wildlife Rehabilitation

Only trained, wildlife rehabilitators, who are licensed by the Game Commission, are permitted to care for injured wildlife for the purposes of eventual release back into the wild. For those who find wildlife that truly is in need of assistance, a listing of licensed wildlife rehabilitators can be found on the Pennsylvania Association of Wildlife Rehabilitators website, www.pawr.com.

If you are unable to identify a wildlife rehabilitator in your area, contact the Game Commission region office that serves the county in which the animal is found so that you can be referred to the appropriate licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

The Game Commission urges Pennsylvanians to resist the urge to interfere with wildlife or remove any wild animal from its natural setting. Such contact can be harmful to both humans and wildlife. Wild animals can lose their natural fear of humans, making it difficult, even impossible, for them to ever again live normally in the wild.

Wildlife that become habituated to humans also can pose a public-safety risk. A few years ago, a yearling, six-point buck attacked and severely injured two people. The investigation into the incident revealed that a neighboring family had illegally taken the deer into their home and fed it as a fawn, and they continued to feed the deer right up until the time of the attack.

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