Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a)
Housing. Any raptor possessed under a falconry permit shall be
housed in a permanent indoor or outdoor facility that provides humane and
healthful living conditions, including suitable protection from the
environment, predators and disturbance.
(1)
Size. Housing facilities must be large enough to afford the
permittee easy access to provide for the care and feeding of raptors housed
within. Each raptor must have an area large enough to allow it to fly if it is
untethered or, if tethered, to fully extend its wings and bate without damaging
its feathers or contacting other raptors.
(2)
Containment. Housing
facilities must be totally enclosed and of a design, strength, quality and
condition to provide for the adequate containment of any raptor housed within
and exclusion of any predators from without. If two or more raptors are housed
in the same housing facilities, each raptor shall be separated from other
raptors by partitioning walls or suitable tethering. Compatible raptors may be
housed together.
(3)
Protection. Housing facilities must provide areas of refuge
that provide adequate protection from excessive sun, wind, inclement weather
and disturbance to any raptor housed within.
(4)
Perches. Housing
facilities must provide a suitable perch for each raptor housed
within.
(5)
Sunlight. Housing facilities must provide at least one opening
or window to permit the admission of sunlight. The opening or window must be
protected on the inside with visible bars spaced narrower than the width of the
raptor's body to deter in flight impacts.
(6)
Cleaning and drainage.
Housing facilities must be of a design and condition to permit easy cleaning
and adequate drainage.
(7)
Transportation. Raptors may be transported to and from their
permanent or temporary housing facilities provided they have a suitable perch
and protection from extreme temperatures, wind and excessive
disturbance.
(8)
Temporary
housing. Raptors may be housed outside of their permanent housing
facilities, provided they have a suitable perch and protection from extreme
temperatures, wind and excessive disturbance for a period not to exceed 30 days
without additional authorization from the Commission. Permittees are required
to notify the district wildlife conservation officer within 5 days of the
commencement of use of a temporary housing facility.
(b)
Equipment. Permittees
shall possess the following equipment suitable for the maintenance of raptors:
(1)
Jesses. At least one
pair of Aylmeri jesses or jesses of similar type or design and constructed of
pliable, high quality leather or suitable synthetic material for use when free
flying the raptor. Traditional one piece jesses may only be used for hunting or
free flight if they do not have slits.
(2)
Leashes and swivels. At
least one flexible weather resistant leash and one strong swivel.
(3)
Bath container. At least
one suitable container accessible to each raptor for drinking and bathing
purposes. The container must be 2 to 6 inches deep and wider than the length of
the raptor.
(4)
Outdoor
perches. At least one suitable weathering area perch for each
raptor.
(5)
Weighing
device. A reliable scale or balance suitable for weighing raptors. The
device must be graduated in increments of not more than 1/2 ounce or 15
grams.
(c)
Maintenance, care and sanitation. Permittees shall maintain
all raptors and their attendant housing facilities in a safe, sanitary and
humane condition.
(1)
Food.
Permittees shall provide each raptor with adequate supplies of palatable,
uncontaminated and nutritionally adequate food suitable to ensuring the normal
health and maintenance of raptors.
(2)
Water. Permittees shall
provide each raptor with adequate supplies of fresh, uncontaminated water that
is available at all times.
(3)
Waste. Permittees shall remove fecal, food and other waste
from housing facilities as needed.
(4)
Care. Permittees shall
provide any necessary health care or seek care through a licensed veterinarian
or wildlife rehabilitator for any sick or injured raptor.
(d)
Inspection. A
permittee's raptors, housing facilities, equipment and records are subject to
inspection by the Commission during normal business hours on any day of the
week. All housing, equipment, maintenance, care and sanitation conditions are
subject to the initial and ongoing approval of the Commission. Any required
modifications shall be completed within 30 days after official oral or written
notice of deficiency received from the Commission.
The provisions of this §147.104 issued under the act
of June 3, 1937 (P. L. 1225, No. 316) (34 P. S. §§
1311.101-1311.1502) (Repealed); and Game and Wildlife Code, 34 Pa.C.S.
§§ 101-2965; amended under the Game and Wildlife Code,
34 Pa.C.S. §§
2102(a) and
2901(b).
This section cited in 58 Pa. Code §
147.106a (relating to nonresident
falconers).
