Game Commission is attempting to outlaw the breeding/sale/ownership of Rabies Vector Species (RVS) which includes raccoons, foxes, bats, coyotes, and groundhogs.

Dear Raccoon Breeders,

My name is Brad Kessler, I am a skunk breeder. This letter is being sent to inform you of the PA Game Commissions current attempt to outlaw the import, possession, or sale of Rabies Vector Species (RVS) within Pennsylvania. Skunks and raccoons are RVS in PA. They have proposed regulation additions and modifications that if passed will make pet skunks and raccoons illegal in PA.

They initially proposed the new Rules at an April 20, 2004. There is another meeting this June 28, 2004 before the new proposal is voted on. This meeting allows the public to express their opinion about the proposed changes.

If we are going to keep these rules from being adopted into the Wildlife code we need to have as many people as possible attend and speak at the June 28, 2004 meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting, I ask that you at least send a letter to each of the voting Game Commissioners listed below.

Due to costs and time I am not sending the complete changes that have been proposed, but will give you a brief summary of my interpretation (inside box) of the changes. A full listing of the changes can be found at the web site

Game Commissioners Commentary: The 1977 release of Florida imported raccoons into West Virginia resulted in the spread of rabies into every northeast state. Currently the USDA is currently trying to stop the spread of the virus from western PA into Ohio. One of the methods being used is by dropping an oral rabies vaccine near the border. Hoping that RVS will find and eat the vaccine bait, thus immunizing them against rabies. By stopping the importation, sale, and possession of RVS, RVS will not be transported across the oral bait zone without an opportunity to eat the rabies vaccine. This will help protect the general public, native wildlife, and neighboring states from rabies or the spread of rabies.

133.6 Rabies Vector Species: RVS list includes but is not limited to raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats, coyotes, and groundhogs.

137.1 (a) (11) It is unlawful to import, possess, sell, offer for sale or release within PA animals designated at Rabies Vector Species (RVS) (see 133.6)

137.1 (e) (4) Persons possessing wildlife or their young prior to May 30, 1992 may lawfully retain possession of their animals but not transfer them to any other party.

147.203 (f) RVS must be kept caged and not be exposed to people or other animals. If the RVS are caged outside, they must be double caged or have a solid wall barrier. RVS may not be removed from their cages.

147.206 RVS may not be imported into the state. RVS may not be sold, traded, or given as gifts to a second party unless that party obtains a permit issued from the Game Commission (Will permits be distributed?) to possess or sell.

147.282 (d) Menageries: RVS may not be removed from their cages

If attending the meeting, you should arrive by 8:00 to sign up to speak. Each public speaker has a maximum 5 minutes to state their opinion. The more people we have speaking, the better. Some things that you may want to point out in your speech or letter to the commissioners are:

West Virginia had importation rules in place since 1961, 16 years before the 3000+ raccoons were imported. Apparently the rules are not effective.

According to Tom Wampler (Microbioligist 3 for the Pa Dept. of Agriculture) (the person who tests rabies cases without human exposure) he does not recall a single case of someone’s pet skunk testing positive for rabies since his start in 1973, Even though there is no official data kept on (domestic VS wild) rabies cases, he would suspect that there would be a lot of publicity around a pet skunk that had tested positive for rabies.

According to Marshall Deasy from the State Health Department bureau of Epidemiology (the place that tests human exposure rabies cases) in the last 11.5 years that he has worked for the Dept. there have been no known cases of a pet skunk testing positive for rabies according to the data available.

The vaccine (RABORAL V-RG by Merial Inc.) that they are using for the bait zone between PA and Ohio is only approved for Raccoons and not for skunks. So if the vaccine is targeting skunks, it is being used in a non-regulated matter, which may be illegal.

Why not use some of this money being used for the bait zone on approving the vaccine (that they apparently believe in) for skunks and raccoons. Then require all domestic skunk and raccoon pets to be vaccinated

Why continue to punish the law-abiding citizens who pay for all of the permits/licenses, keep the paperwork, and submit to the surprise inspections, while there are still plenty of people who import, sell, and display animals illegally. These new rules will not stop the illegal importation and possession of RVS, but increase it.

In the past two years, cats have ranked third highest in positive rabies cases in PA. Why not outlaw importation, possession, and sale of pet cats?

Please send your letters ASAP to:

Vern RossRussell SchleidenRoxane Palone John Riley Samuel Dunkle Robert Gilford Stephen Mohr Thomas Boop Gregory Isabella

PA Game commission at … 2001 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, PA 17110

I would very much appreciate seeing and hearing as many people as possible at the above address on Monday, June 28, 2004. The doors open at 7:45 AM. Please try to be there and sign in by 8:00 AM.

Thank you for your time, and feel free to contact me @ 717/846-1068

Brad A Kessler