A Stroudsburg wildlife rehabilitation facility has been ordered to stop collecting wild birds suspected of dying from the bird flu.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Bureau of Wildlife Protection advised the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center to cease and desist in a letter sent Wednesday.

“We have been made aware you (sic) staff have continued to get involved in the collection of dead snow geese and other wildlife suspected of dying from highly pathogenic avian influenza after specifically being told by Sgt. Bryan Mower and other Game Commission personnel that this is not allowed and is a violation of the Game and Wildlife Code,” Jason L. DeCoskey, the bureau’s director, wrote.

He noted that the center’s wildlife rehabilitation permit authorizes it to rehabilitate sick or injured wildlife for release back to the wild.

“While you are permitted to dispose of any sick or injured wildlife that are received but die or are euthanized under your care, your Wildlife Rehabilitation permit does not allow for the collection of dead migratory birds or any other wildlife,” DeCoskey wrote.

He said that while a salvage permit allows for the collection of dead wildlife, it is specifically for exhibition, scientific study or educational instruction purposes.

“Collecting dead wildlife for disposal purposes would not be covered under this or any other permit that the Game Commission issues,” according to the letter.

DeCoskey ordered the facility to stop its collection and disposal of dead migratory birds and to contact the commission with any reports of mass mortalities of any wildlife.

“Any further occurrences of you or your employees or volunteers collecting and disposing of dead snow geese will be considered a violation and you could be cited for each, and every bird taken,” DeCoskey wrote.

In early January, the Pocono center said that it was helping to collect birds that died from bird flu. It also noted that it was assisting with the euthanization of infected birds, and that it had collected well into the hundreds.

On Jan. 11, however, it acknowledged that it was not legally permitted to pick up any deceased birds.

The center posted a photograph of the cease-and-desist order on its Facebook page Wednesday afternoon.

“This is what we were hand delivered today so this is why we cannot respond!” according to the post. “Do with this information as you will. We will no longer be answering any questions, concerns, etc. regarding any dead or alive snow geese. Call Pennsylvania Game Commission!”

The post claims that “no one” was given written protocol on procedures despite requests for the information made by the center’s attorney and a state senator.

It also said that it often gets calls about injured birds and responds, including a recent report of an “injured” eagle.

“We went and picked it up. It wasn’t injured it had H5N1 but how in the hell would one know that until it’s observed and tested???? The finder INSISTED it had a wing injury. A lot of these birds DO have injuries because they are crashing into things from being neurological!!!” the center posted.

It said that it continues to copy officials and had been following directives.

“We CANNOT control other people and certainly not the people who show up here with dead/dying birds!” the center wrote.