As an avid conservationist and a proud Pennsylvanian, I have come to realize that the name of our state's wildlife agency, the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), does not fully capture its broad and diverse mission. The PGC is about more than just "game". It is responsible for conserving and managing all of Pennsylvania’s wildlife resources, including over 480 species of wild birds and wild mammals. Yet, its current name harks back to 1895 when it was established primarily as a game regulatory body.

In fact, most state wildlife agencies were established in the late 1800s or early 1900s and originally had the word “game” in their names. Over time, most of them replaced “game” with “wildlife” to reflect a broader mission that included species that are not hunted. Pennsylvania is one of only 11 state wildlife agencies that still use “game” in their names.

In recent years, we've seen significant changes in how our state agencies are named to better reflect their roles. For instance, we saw the Department of Public Welfare evolve into the Department of Human Services to pull its name out of the past and more accurately reflect its modern-day mission.

Similarly, it's time for us to acknowledge that PGC’s work extends beyond game management. It plays a crucial role in habitat management and restoration efforts; it conducts research on various species; it educates Pennsylvanians about wildlife conservation; among other important tasks.

Let's bring this agency's name into alignment with its 21st-century mission by renaming it as the 'Pennsylvania Wildlife Commission' or another suitable title that accurately represents its diverse responsibilities towards our state’s rich biodiversity.

Please join me in calling on our state lawmakers — with the support of the Governor — to modernize this agency’s name so that every Pennsylvanian can appreciate what this vital organization truly stands for. Sign this petition today!