Neighbors who saw the live wildlife menagerie kept by Andrew Moore, 46, of Tannersville, Monroe County, may have thought he was merely a nature lover.

But Pennsylvania Game Commission officials had another name for him: poacher.

Last month, Moore pled guilty to 30 counts of illegal possession of dozens of animals illegally taken from the wild, an unusual form of wildlife poaching.

According to the Game Commission, Moore called his wildlife collection, "a hobby that got out of control."

Responding in May to a tip from a confidential source, Wildlife Conservation Officers from the Game Commission visited Moore's Pocono Township home.

"When we arrived, we saw several cages and multiple bird traps on the front porch," said investigating WCO Scott Malicky, in a prepared statement. "Also visible from the front porch were several bird traps in the backyard."

Returning the next day with a search warrant, Game Commission officials seized 13 goldfinches, 11 pine siskins, seven house finches, five dark-eyed juncos, four purple finches, three blue jays, three gray squirrels, two groundhogs, two raccoons, two indigo buntings, a chipping sparrow, a black-capped chickadees, two rose-breasted grosbeaks, a cardinal, a brown-headed cowbird, a house sparrow, one mourning dove and five dead animals that required further identification due to decomposition.

Possession of live wild animals without a permit is illegal in Pennsylvania. Officials said the animals in Moore's possession had been mistreated, as well. The birds, underweight and suffering from nutritional problems, were transferred to the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. At least 20 of the birds have since died due to the condition they were in when they arrived.

"Many of the birds required beak trimming, nail trimming and antibacterial medication in their drinking water, and one of the raccoons is suffering nutritional problems requiring dietary supplements," said Malicky. "The cages needed cleaning and disinfection due to the improper care of the wildlife."

As part of a plea agreement, cruelty to animals charges were dropped. Moore was ordered to pay a $2,250 fine and $750 in reimbursement to the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for expenses incurred in treating the surviving animals.

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