The National Wildlife Control Training Program

For those of you not familiar with this project, let me provide a little background. Regrettably, most states lack even rudimentary training requirements for the licensing of wildlife control operators (WCO). Part of the reason for this situation is the dearth of training materials and the fact that state wildlife agencies, already underfunded and overworked, don't have the resources to create a program let alone administer it. Our program seeks to correct that. We have created a training program designed to provide beginning WCOs the fundamentals of the trade.

We will provide this training in multiple ways, including print (book forthcoming in January, 2011), online (January 2011) and in person if states desire that. This training will also be open to businesses wishing to train new workers.

The training consists of two main parts. First is the core modules. Core modules are what we believe every WCO should know regardless of where they live. It's written in a manner that makes it suitable for WCOs regardless of their respective state laws.

Part 2 consists of species modules. Each species module will address the biology, damage, and control methods related to that particular species. We anticipate that states or individuals can select which species they want to learn about. This allows individuals to learn about species that they are allowed to control. The exam at the end will cover the modules that were selected.

In addition, states that wish to work with us, can edit the species modules so that only those techniques permitted in their state are discussed. Biology and range information can also be adjusted to reflect the specific facts in that respective state. These state specific training materials can then be printed and/or provided on-line. States won't have to bear the costs of hosting or modification of materials as the user can bear the full price. What is that price? We don't know at the moment because we are still preparing the document for publication. But we anticipate the on-line training (which will have additional training resources than what can be provided by the book) to be less than 200 dollars which will include the cost of the exam. Of course, advanced training modules will be provided in the future. If you are interested in providing advanced training, please contact me. We want to work with you.


Here is an outline of the National Wildlife Control Training Program

Part 1 WCO Core Training Modules

1. Principles of Wildlife Damage Management – Introduction to principles, definition of concepts, best practices concepts,.

2. Physical Safety - The section on physical safety (like ladder safety) and expand on details related to working in the field dealing with animal capture and certain control techniques.

3. Wildlife Diseases – We discuss personal safety, personal protection equipment, common diseases, and the meaning and problems of zoonotic diseases.

4. Site Inspection – The process and theory of on-site investigation of wildlife damage complaints.

5. Overview of wildlife control methods - The overview of control methods prepares technicians for the control techniques they fill find in the species specific information.

6. Animal Handling—Treatment and capture of free-ranging and trapped animals. .

7. Euthanasia & Carcass Disposal—Killing methods and options for the disposition of carcasses.

8. Business Practices – Overview of standard business practices. This is NOT a how to run you business.

9. Legal and Ethical Issues – The importance of following federal, state and local laws. Demonstration of values, business and personal ethics, the ethical treatment of wildlife (animals in general) in the media.

PART 2 Species Modules

Raccoon
Skunk
Bat
Beaver
Squirrels
Etc.

We are excited about this new development. Stay tuned or even better, stop by and see us at NWCOA's convention in New Orleans Jan 13 and following.

Stephen Vantassel, Project Coordinator, CWCP, ACP
Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
School of Natural Resources
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
414 Hardin Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0974 U.S.A.
phone: 402-472-8961
fax: 402-472-2946
email: svantassel2@unl.edu
web site: http://icwdm.org

New Bait?

New Bait?

I was speaking with a Bell Labs' sales representative. Bell Labs makes a non-peanut butter based bait for rodents called "Provoke." He said that he has seen it lure raccoons. In addition, he hasn't seen it lure house cats. So I am putting out a call to anyone that has information on the effectiveness of Provoke to lure raccoons.

For if it is true, it would be good news as new baits are always valuable.

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Noises in the Wall

From time to time, I get requests to identify the cause of noises in people's walls. The problem, besides my being miles from the location of the problem is that noise by itself is a very poor diagnostic tool for identifying wildlife damage.  It's like going to your doctor and saying you have pain in your knee. It only tells him that you have a problem not what the problem is as it could be strain from basketball, arthritis to cancer etc.

Here are a few things to keep in mind.
1. Noise can only be heard when you are around. Saying you hear the noise in the morning doesn't necessarily help if you are gone all day at work. The point being you could only hear it in the morning or at night because you are otherwise, unavailable.
2. Noises of a consistent repetitive (over days) nature are typically mechanical. Animals are not clocks. While they may make noises at similar times of the day, daylight and weather are constantly changing so their noises will also change. If it doesn't then think mechanical.

I suggest visiting http://icwdm.org read our literature on how to inspect your home. Takes about 45 minutes to take the course. It's free. Then you will have some basic skills on how to id this problem.


Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Snapping Turtles

June is the month female snapping turtles leave the water and find a location to lay their eggs. She finds a spot that has enough sun, digs a hole, deposits the eggs, and then covers them with soil and even mud. Then she goes along her merry way. About 70 days later, depending on soil temperatures (warmer the eggs mature faster, cooler, eggs mature more slowly) the young turtles will emerge an seek water.

Despite how tough adult turtles are, (don't get bit by one), most turtle eggs never mature because they are depredated on by raccoons, skunks and other middle sized predators known as meso-predators. If you have found nest and you wish to protect the turtle eggs from predation, then you can lay a 1" wire mesh over the spot and anchor it down. This will prevent predators from digging them up.

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP,
http://icwdm.org

Canada Goose Damage Management Workshop

In case you haven't heard, but Canada geese numbers have increased dramatically over the past 15 years. From a time when their future was a matter of concern, the actions of wildlife managers and changes in environmental policy combined to bring Canada geese numbers back to what they are today. Not to be outdone, but changes to the habitat, such as urban sprawl and the human propensity to have green grass on gentle slopes surrounding lakes, have created a veritable Garden of Eden for geese. All three elements are the answer to the question, "Why do we have so many geese?"

The School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln along with the National Wildlife Control Operators Association have combined to create a training program to educate people interested in managing conflicts with Canada geese. This workshop will provide hands-on training, demonstrations, and lecture to help students become familiar with the variety of tools, along with their limitations, presently available to control geese.  No hype, just solid training so that you can resolve geese issues in your area.

If you would like to learn more or perhaps even participate, visit Goose Damage Management Workshop. Act fast, as the workshop will be taking place, June 29-July 1, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP
 

Identifying Scat

At the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management we receive a number of requests to identify scats that landowners have found on their property. Here are a few tips to help you to help us identify scats.

Be careful around scat. Don't touch it with your bare hands and stay upwind. Don't breath material from the scat, you don't want to expose yourself to any disease or infectious organisms.

1. Location, location, location. We need to know where you live as animals live in different places. If you reside in Massachusetts, it is highly unlikely that the scat would have been left by a wolf. 

1b. Additionally, consider the habitat. Different animals live in different environments. Meadow and prairie voles are, you guessed it, found in grass lands not in the middle of the forest.

1.c. Positioning. Is the scat located along a trail? In the open, under a tree, near the water?

2. Length and width. People generally tell us the length of the scat, but they neglect to tell us the width. We need both.

3. Shape. Are the droppings, pellets, tubular, plops, pointed on one or both ends, twisted, segmented?  Be detailed.

4. Can you identify any items in the scat? Hair, seeds?

5. Is there any white in the scat? Normally, we don't care about color because color is often a reflection of what the animal ate. White, however, is different because it normally signifies nitrogen which birds and lizards excrete.

I hope you find these questions helpful. Remember though, scat identification is an art as much as a science. But it is little more than a shot in the dark without all the necessary information.

For more information on scat identification visit Scat Identification
Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Flying Bats

I recently received a question about how to prevent bats from flying around a house at night. It appeared that the bats frightened the residents and they wanted them to not be around anymore.

If this situation affects you, here are some strategies to employ to resolve the matter.

First, make sure that the bats are NOT living in your house.  Obviously, if bats are living in your house, it is very likely that you will see them flying around. For tips on how to inspect your home visit Inspection Tips for free training.

Second, turn of lights as these attract and congregate insects that bats consume. Since turning off lights is not always practical, consider changing the light bulb to less attractive color such as yellow or add a motion sensor to the light.

Third, use alternative doors. It may be that bats are more active on one side of the house than others. Find out if they are loafing behind shudders or under overhangs. (Bats often rest to recover and digest their food before venturing out again). Prevent their access to loafing locations by netting, filling the gaps behind the shudders, or screening off overhangs. Remember netting and screening should be no larger than 1/4-inch weave.

Finally consider developing some toleration. Phobias can be overcome with education and help. The more you read about bats the more likely you will appreciate their remarkable abilities and importance to the eco-system. Who knows, you may even grow to like them.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Preventing Raccoons from Climbing Your House

First, you need to make sure the raccoon is not using your house as a home. Details on inspection are at http;//icwdm.org. Never prevent access if the raccoon is living in/on the building. In that situation, you must control the animal according to state law and then after install prevention materials.


As for preventing access (assuming the raccoon is not living there),

1. trim back tree branches at least 4 feet from roof line. This includes horizontally and vertically.

2. install porcupine wire at corners, downspouts and other spots where raccoons can climb. They can't climb flat surfaces (i.e. straight up the wall) but can easily climb corners, vines, and downspouts.

a. Use three strips of 1 foot long porcupine wire (one brand name is called Nixalite; no endorsement is implied) laid out horizontally at least 9 feet off the ground to reduce likelihood of human injury as the spikes are extremely sharp. The spies Space them 4 inches apart at the tips.

Should look like -----------------------
                         ------------------------
                        -------------------------

You may need to use longer strips if you have to go over down spouts etc. The key is to have 6 inches of spikes on each side of the corner.

Caulk screws to prevent water from entering structure. Consult local hardware store for best options.

If the shiny spikes are a concern (they are typically made of stainless steel), then paint them before installation.


Again further details at http://icwdm.org including information on what to look for in hiring a qualified wildlife control operator.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Feral Cats--A Continuing Dilemma

Feral cats are domesticated housecats that have reverted back to their wild state. Typically cats revert back to a wild condition due to abandonment or other irresponsible human behavior, such as failure to spade or neuter owned cats. As can be expected, feral cats pose serious threats to native fauna. It is true that habitat loss causes the greatest negative impact on wildlife, the presence of feral cats provides additional stresses.

Feral cats are a particular problem due to the lack of legal clarity regarding their status. For instance, are feral cats, wildlife? domestic animals, invasive species or something else? Since one cannot identify a feral cat simply by sight, anyone who tries to control feral cats is at legal risk because animal control officers may deem control of the cats as cruelty. Throw in the problem of free-range cats (which are cats that are owned but whose owners allow them to roam free) and things get more complicated because killing a cat runs the risk of damaging someone's property.

So what should one who is suffering from damage by cats do to resolve the problem? Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. Strike that. There are no easy legal answers.

Fortunately, a new publication is available that will help, and I emphasize help, with some of the complexities. If for nothing else, the publication "Managing Feral Cats" will provide some guidance about the problem and provide some solutions that might work for you.

We hope you will agree. As always, let us know what you think.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Teacher Believed Killed by Wolf Attack While Jogging

CNN recently reported on the recent death (March 8, 2010) of 32 year old Candice Berner of Chignik Lake, Alaska. It is believed that she was attacked by wolves (Canis lupus) while jogging in the remote town. Authorities have ruled out foul play and have killed 2 wolves in the hopes that a necropsy would confirm them as the man-killers.

If wolves are shown to be the likely cause of her death, then officials will have to decide whether present wolf management practices are sufficient to protect human safety. While animal protectionists and wildlife officials will corretly state, wolf attacks are exceedingly rare (on the scale of 1 in the last century), one could also suggest that such statistics are relatively meaningless.

Let me explain. First, wolves were intensely hunted, trapped, and poisoned. In fact, human control efforts were so successful that the wolf almost became extinct in North America. Certainly, wolves were eradicated in the lower 48 states. So just from the notion of small numbers, it would be extremely unlikely for a human to suffer a wolf attack. There just weren't enough of them around.  Second, wolves who are aggressively hunted etc. learn that humans are a threat not a resource. So they will likely stay away.

Third, I would like to refer readers to an interesting webpage on wolf attacks.  The author is no wild-eyed wolf hater, but does note that wolves may not be human-friendly entity that some animal protectionists groups may want to suggest. A recent article  in the Wildlife Professional by Geist noted how wolf attacks in Europe were a significant problem. There was a reason why childrens fairy tales mention the big bad wolf so often.

We should remember that predators are predators. This fact is even more crucial when we consider that a Nova Scotia woman was killed by a coyote. If a smaller coyote could kill, then how much more can a wolf kill? The point here is not to demonize wolves and call for their eradication. That is the last thing I want to see. I would oppose eradication of wolves even if it is shown that they do hunt humans. But I would suggest that humans recognize that if we don't remind predators who is the real top predator, then we should expect more of these types of incidents. The key is balance, protection of wolves as a species and protection of humans as individuals.

For information on wolf damage management visit Wolf Damage Management

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Cost of Invasive Species

A recent article by Mark Riddix of Investopedia (published in the March 25,2010 San Francisco Chronicle) highlights the costs of invasive species to our environmental and economic well-being. Invasive species are organisms that are not native to a particular habitat that when present in a non-native habitat have deleterious effects on that new environment.

The reason for their negative effects stems from their advantages over native species in two distinct areas.First, when an invasive species arrives to a new environment, it is like someone who arrives with a machine gun in a place where man only had bows and arrows. The new species can totally out compete the native species and their advantage often results in environmental devastation because there are no natural (i.e. non-human) checks on the invasive species growth or activity. Second, successful invasive species tend to be generalists so they can adapt to a wide variety of food sources and habitats. Fortunately, only about 10% of invasive species introduced tend to survive and thrive. But the impacts of the species that do can be enormous.

Here are a few invasive species and their impact on the United States that Mr. Riddix mentioned in his article.
1. Nutria--a large aquatic rodent from South America that was introduced in Louisiana. This rodent has a large appetite for vegetation and can significantly reduce the plant life in swamps leading to the swamp's death and therefore allow greater erosion and threat from hurricanes because there is less vegetation to hold the soil and slow water movement. This species is now found in Maryland, Oregon and Washington State. According to the National Wildlife Federation, nutria damage 500-1000 acres of wetlands a year at Maryland's Blackwater National Wildlfie Refuge alone.

2. Feral Pigs--These are pigs that are now wild. They are now present in 37 states. Aside from their damage to habitat due to their feeding practices, feral pigs threaten livestock production through the transmission of diseases such as brucellosis, encephalitis, pseudo-rabies, and leptospirosis.


There is much more. But why not read it yourself at San Francisco Chronicle. 

Remember, wildlife damage management isn't always about controlling animals that "bother" or inconvenience humans. Sometimes and in some cases increasingly so, wildlife damage management is necessary to protect the integrity and continuity of our environment. 

Stephen M. Vantassel is project coordinator for the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management http://icwdm.org/ which is dedicated to providing research-based information on wildlife damage control to the public.

Wild Neighbors:The Humane Approach to Living with Wildlife ISBN 978-0-9748400-8-6

Wild Neighbors is a revision of Dr. John Hadidian's earlier book of the same title and I thought it appropriate to review this edition, having evaluated the earlier version for the National Animal Damage Control Association (no longer active). You can read my earlier review at UNL Digital Commons.

Readers will find the book an enjoyable read. The authors made sure the book was organized in a manner that aids reader understanding and use of the text. The book is organized into two parts. Part 1 addresses principles and major concepts related to human-wildlife interactions, such as law, diseases, and techniques. The authors also provide their philosophy of wildlife damage management which I shall assess below. Part 2 contains a series of chapters dedicated to species that are typically involved in conflicts with humans. These chapters as well as those in Part 1 are superbly written with an easy to understand prose. The authors did an excellent job avoiding complex sentences deciding instead to write in simple narrative. Each species chapter covers biology, range, habits, potential disease concerns, followed by a discussion of techniques the authors believe may help resolve the human-wildlife conflict in a way acceptable to them. Each species ends with a recommendation of books for further reading, if the authors found any that met their standards. The line drawings and figures included in the text are superbly done and add informative as well as aesthetic value to the book.

Unfortunately, the book's content is not so easily endorsed. However, there are a few elements worthy of praise. First, the authors summary of animal biology saves the book from being a total failure. Anyone interested in learning how to write about animal biology that is both accurate and enjoyable to read, should consult this book. Second, the book recommendations at the end of each of the species chapters is also a worthy benefit. With so many potential books available, it is always a better to obtain books that are recommended by people knowledgeable about wildlife biology.


The book's advice about resolving wildlife conflicts is woefully inadequate, at times naive, and generally dismissive of lethal control. Although the authors finally provided advice about how to kill rodents (something I noted was lacking in their first book), they seemed unwilling to accept the reality that many of their suggestions won't work to resolve wildlife conflicts. The authors repeatedly criticize lethal control techniques by insinuating that they are done simply because individuals fail to think creatively enough about possible alternatives. Ironically, it never seems to occur to the authors that their employer, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), should be spending its money in search of these so called "non-lethal' alternatives. With access to millions of dollars (their budget in 2006 was over 100 million dollars) one would expect that the HSUS should have plenty of money to fund research. I know I would like to actually read a book with fewer recommendations couched in tentative terms of may, could, and try. One should also mention that the authors do condemn some techniques not because they have proof of their being inhumane but because they "think" the techniques are inhumane (see p. 34). As stated above, I suspect they have the money to find out for sure, but it is doubtful that they will fund the research. 

The book contains a number of statements that conveniently neglect to provide the reader with the full context regarding wildlife damage management. For example, in the chapter on rats, they write "The usual consequence of killing rodents to suppress their population is the return, shortly, to their population level that prevailed before, or one slightly higher." They move on to say that if nothing is done to the underlying habitat then the cycle of killing followed by rat rebound will continue in an endless cycle. That is all true. What they neglect to mention is that the cost of regular control may be significantly less than the cost of implementing a long-term solution. I can buy a lot of toxicant over a lot of years if I can avoid spending 10,000 dollars to remove the underlying rodent conditions. In other words, just because something can be done does not mean that it is practical. Sometimes, the cure is worse than the disease. (The cost of owning a lawn means you have to mow it. Sometimes, the cost of certain habitats is that certain species (i.e. rats, mice) thrive to unacceptable levels). If the cost of removing the underlying conditions that feed rats ends up bankrupting you, then what is the benefit? I wonder what the HSUS authors think poor people, those that can't afford to implement expensive structural repairs to exclude rats and mice, should be required to do? Should they not have the ability to use inexpensive toxicants to control rats and mice because the HSUS decries their use? What about cities and towns? Aren't people's taxes high enough or should we increase them more to remove all of the underlying conditions which will only likely effect incomplete control. I recommend habitat modification as a control technique. However, I do not believe that it is non-lethal (contrary to these authors) nor do I think it is the full solution. Habitat modification must be part of control because I believe in Integrated Pest Management rather than condemning tools. All tools have their place, provided they haven't been completely supplanted by a better one, contrary to what the authors in this text claim.

The authors are quite right to assert that people need to be more tolerant of wildlife and work to prevent damage from happening. However, the authors also need to be more sympathetic to the myriad of ways property owners suffer damage from wildlife and how they need ways to resolve those conflicts that do not cost a fortune and work immediately.

In sum, readers wanting to know all the available techniques useful in resolving conflicts with wildlife so that they can make an informed choice, should look elsewhere (e.g. Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage available for free at http://icwdm.org). 

Stephen M. Vantassel CWCP, ACP. is project coordinator for the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (http://icwdm.org) and is an expert in helping people resolve wildlife conflicts.

Managing Wild Pigs: A Technical Guide by B.C. West, A. L. Cooper, and J. B. Armstrong

Feral pigs have become a significant threat to environmental and agricultural interests with combined losses being valued at 1.5 billion dollars annually. The diseases commonly associated with feral pigs (such as swine brucellosis, pseudorabies, classical swine fever, and trichinosis, constitute a continued  risk to ranchers and livestock producers through substantial portions of America's agricultural base.

Time is precious and with the volume of research that has been published in recent years, it is getting harder and harder to read fast enough to keep abreast of the literature. Fortunately, Ben C. West, Andrea L. Cooper, and James B. Armstrong have come to the rescue at least in regards to feral pigs (Sus scrofa).

The authors have put together a thoroughly researched document that helps managers and wildlife damage management specialists obtain the information they need to make informed decisions about managing feral pigs.The document is beautifully laide out in 8.5x11" saddle stitched booklet form. It is accompanied with superb full color photos and an appendex containing schematics for building your own feral pig trap. Not a wildlife damage manager or biologist? Don't worry. The authors have limited the technical jargon and redacted the information so that readers are not encumbered with distracting details and academic controversies. At only 54 pages long (11 of which consist of the bibliography and appendix), the booklet is a quick and enjoyable read.

If you are looking for a no-nonsense, research-informed document to help guide you in the right way to control feral hogs, then this document is for you. Given what the authors state about the need for feral pig control, I hope many people not only read this document but also get on board with assisting in the control of this environmental menace.

To obtain your copy visit The Berryman Institute and download the PDF at no cost.

Stephen M. Vantassel is project coordinator for the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management and is an expert in wildlife damage management education.

Hand Sanitizers

For many years nows, I have recommended waterless hand sanitizers for NWCOs (Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators) who cannot easily access traditional soap and water. While these products cannot (and don't) solve all the infectious disease issues facing NWCOs (e.g. parasites), hand sanitizers certainly help. The key is to use one that has at least 60% alcohol.

But recent research has refined this recommendation. An abstract of a presentation by Natalie D'Antonio, John D. Rihs, Melissa A. Tosiano, Janet E. Stout, and Victor L. Yu, entitled "Efficacy of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers (ABHS): A Hand Wipe (65.9% Ethanol) Exceeds the Killing Capacity of a Gel Rub (62% Ethanol) published in The American Journal of Infection Control (June 2009):E116-117, stated that a hand wipe with 65% alcohol (Sani-Hands ALC hand wipe by PDI Inc.) did a better job at killing bacterial germs than a gel with 62% alcohol (Purell gel rub). Now the authors pointed out that handwashing with microbial soap did a better job at sanitizing than either alcohol based solutions.

One advantage of wipes, not mentioned by the authors, is that wipes allow the NWCO to remove dirt and grime that can harbor pathogens. The friction and wiping capacity of a wipe allows a NWCO to scrub and remove germs. This removal action is one reason why hand washing is so effective. The flowing water coupled with the rubbing action of pressing hands detaches germ carrying grime so that the water can rinse it away. Although not as effective as handwashing, wipes provide the opportunity to use friction and wiping to remove grime so that the alcohol has an opportunity to kill the germs that remain.

Bottom line. NWCOs should wash their hands whenever possible. If they can't, they should choose to use alcohol wipes with 65% alcohol over 62% gel.

Stephen M. Vantassel is Project Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is the webmaster for the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management (http://icwdm.org/).

Site on Resolving Problems with Crows

Crows are interesting birds. They are highly intelligent (for a bird) and highly social. While those traits make them interesting, they also make them difficult to control. Fortunately, aside from the occasional jewelry theft (crows are known to pick up shiny objects), damage from crows is typically limited to their roosts and damage to crops.

Roosts are a problem due to the noise and feces made by hundreds to thousands of crows. These roosts typically form during the cooler months where the large number of birds can actually raise the temperature (1-2 degrees F) for the birds in the middle (who typically happen to the dominant birds). In the mid- 1990s, Springfield, Massachusetts had the largest crow roost in southern New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island). Other large crow roosts exist elsewhere in the country.

So how does one go about controlling these birds? First, you need to obey the law. Crows are migratory birds and therefore protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty. However, since crows are plentiful, many states allow hunting of crows during established seasons. If at all possible, control crows during the hunting season.
Unfortunately, crow damage doesn't always occur during the hunting season and in others, hunting is prohibited in the areas where the crows are a problem (e.g. downtown). In these circumstances, you have a few options.

Option 1. Habitat Modification. Crows roost where the trees have sufficient branches to allow a lot of them to roost together. Trim the branches by up to a 1/3 to reduce their ability to cluster.

Option 2. Hazing. Make the location uncomfortable for them. Pyrotechnics, (check local laws before using) and distress calls can work. No federal permit is required because the birds or their nests are being harmed. Methyl anthranilate is a chemical repellent that when fogged can cause birds to disperse. Do it as often as needed to convince the birds not to return.

Option 3. Direct control. (e.g. hunting etc.) You may need to contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as state wildlife agencies to obtain necessary permits when controlling out of season.

For additinonal information, visit the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management or
U.C. Davis Crow Control both will provide a lot of research-based information to help you.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Wildlife Pro Network

The Wildlife Pro Network is, as the title suggests, a social-networking community of wildlife damage maangement professionals and those interested or related to the industry. The site was started by Robb Russell, webmaster and web site designer who is also a wildlife damage management professional himself.

I am writing about this group for a couple of reasons. First, Mr. Russell's vision helps improve the professionalism of the industry by fostering communication and the exchange of ideas and techniques. The fact is wildlife damage management is still a relatively young profession when compared with traditional pest control. Where pest control typically uses chemicals, wildlife damage professionals must use mechanical means, such as traps, catchpoles, one-way doors etc. to control wildlife. The diversity of skills needed to be effective at wildlife damage management is truly immense as one needs to know about building design, animal behavior, ladder safety, bio-hazard safety, baiting, trapping, and light carpentry, not to mention all the customer relations experience.

The second reason for discussing the Wildlife Pro Network is that Mr. Russell has asked the Internet Center for Wildlife Daamge Management to participate in podcasts on various issues relating to the industry. The last podcast we did covered raccoon latrine cleanup. We are presently working on an industry protocol for such clean up, which we hope will protect consumers and professionals who do this kind of important but dangerous work.

In conclusion, if you are a wildlife damage management professional, I suggest you join the Wildlife Pro Network. It can only help your business. If you are not a professional, then be glad that Mr. Russell has started it because its existence raises the chances that the wildlife control company you hire will have the knowledge needed to do the job right.

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP.

Raccoon Latrine Cleanup Protocols
The wildlife control industry is still in its relative infancy. While many advances have occurred in techniques and professionalism, much more needs to be done. One area that needs standards to be created is the clean up of raccoon latrines. Raccoons are the definitive host of a roundworm, Baylisascaris procyonis, that has injured and/or killed 11 children. Now that is not a high number, when compared to automobiles. However, for the parents of those individuals it is a devastating and preventable loss.

When homeowners hear about the threat latrines pose to them, they understandably wish to have them removed. The problem is that removal has the potential for exposing and/or contaminating more areas to roundworm eggs (which have an incredible survival rate).   What would help is to standardize the clean up practices so that workers and homeowners can be protected.

The Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management has decided to draft such a document. We have created one presently and are asking for input and critique to improve it. We hope that the wildlife control industry will enventually adopt a protocol, perhaps ours once it is ready for primetime.

If you are interested in helping us review the protocol, just drop me a line at svantassel@unl.edu

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Disease Emergence and Resurgence: The Wildlife-Human Connection

Zoonotics, diseases in wildlife that are transmittable to humans, is a vast field full of technicalities. Nevertheless, the topic is an important one not only for wildlife control professionals but also for those wanting to learn more about the wildlife-human disease interface. According to one calculation, 832 or 49% of all 1,709 known pathogens, are zoonotic. If we consider the 156 diseases that are designated as "emerging", 114 are zoonotic. (Friend, 2006). This kind of statistic reminds us that while wildlife is beautiful and its presence enriches our lives; wildlife is also a threat to our survival. 

In 2006, the United States Geological Service published Disease Emergence and Resurgence: The Wildlife-Human Connection by Milton Friend. This document, while 400 pages long, presents the various issues surrounding zoonotics in as popular a writing style as the content will permit. In lucid writing, filled with numerous illustrations and side bars, Friend explains why the public should be concerned about zoonotics. The text provides a call for greater funding to support what is termed, "One Health", a term that says that wildlife health plays a vital role in protecting the health of humans and livestock. Friend says that humans must fund improved surveillance programs so that disease outbreaks can be discovered quickly so that they can be treated quickly. One need only consider Avian Influenza or H1N1 (mistakenly called the Swine Flu) to recognize how important early detection and response is to protect the health of the larger society.

If you think that is a lot, note that I have only touched on the content of chapter 1. The book has so much more to say, of which I will touch on in future blogs. You don't have to wait for me though, as you can download the book for free at USGS Zoonotics.

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Being Safe with Cage Traps

Lots of homeowners use cage traps and box traps (mistakenly called live traps) to capture nuisance wildlife. While cage trapping is not difficult, most non-professionals neglect to protect themselves from potential injury and disease transmission that can occur during the trap's use. When instructing the public about wildlife control, I am always amazed at the reaction I get when I tell them about the need for proper safety equipment. I usually describe the scene as follows, "All of you certainly wear gloves when handling cage traps right?" Of course, I know that they haven't. I then say, "After all, where does the trapped animal go to the bathroom?" Once they recognize how foolish it is to handle cage traps without gloves, I am pretty confident that they don't make that mistake again.

So let's briefly mention what safety precautions should be taken when cage trapping. First, wear good quality leather gloves. Never handle a cage trap without them. Cage traps have sharp edges that can easily scratch you. Remember, dirt can contain the bacteria that causes tetanus (a.k.a. lockjaw). Scratch yourself with the dirty cage can expose you to this disease. Don't be too confident about your vaccination. If you are like most people, you can't remember the last time you had a booster. The standard (always check with your doctor though) is a booster every 10 years, and sooner if you have a particularly bad exposure (i.e. dirty nail puncture).

Second, protect yourself from being scratched or bitten. Just because the animal is in the cage, doesn't mean that the squirrel or raccoon can't bite or scratch you. Some traps are safer in this regard than others. For example, a trap with 1x1/2 inch weave mesh provides greater protection than one with a 1x1 inch weave. This is not to say the 1x1 inch weave makes the trap bad, it is just something to consider when purchasing and using it. Check the handle and handle guard. Does the handle provide enough room for your hand to keep it away from the cage? Is the handle guard wide enough (5x6 inches is good) to protect your hand from the claws of the caged animal.

There are other issues to consider, but these give you a start. To learn more visit
Being Safe with Cage Traps

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP

Getting Your Service Business Listed on ICWDM.org

As webmaster for the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, I receive a number of requests from nuisance wildlife control operators to have their businesses listed. I am happy to do it. But there are a few requirements in place that must be met before a company can be listed.

First, the ICWDM has two categories of businesses, service vendors and product vendors. This blog will only address the service vendors.

If you have a wildlife control company that you would like listed, then send me your FULL contact information. That means, name, business name, mailing address with zip code, e-mail address, and phone number.

As one can see from our site, we only list name, town, state, and phone number, so you will have some privacy. We do not recommend listing toll free numbers as it may encourage harassment calls from animal rights activists.

The next step you must take is to sign up for our free newsletter. To subscribe send an e-mail message to: LISTSERV@UNL.EDU

In the Message Field (NOT Subject line) type in: SUBSCRIBE ICWDM

That is it. I will be automatically notified that you have subscribed.

Please note that the e-mail you include in your full contact information must match the e-mail listed in the sign up. Otherwise, I won't know you have signed up.

Unfortunately, most businesses get waylaid by this requirement. Perhaps they are fearful of spam. Let me assure you that the ICWDM does NOT spam. Presently our newsletter is quarterly. So at most you might get 6 e-mails a year from me.

Beside marketing our newsletter, the purpose of the listserv is to keep track of businesses. So many people enter and leave the NWCO business that I needed a way to keep track so I don't get complaints from visitors that so and so company's phone number no longer works. If the e-mail you have provided bounces, we drop your name from the website. So it is critical that if you change e-mails or don't empty your inbox on at least a quarterly basis, you will be dropped. We do not necessarily notify businesses that they have been dropped.

Sometimes, NWCOs would like to have a link to their website included in their listing. We are happy to do this for 75.00 a year. We would make your name or phone number a hyperlink to the site. Display ads begin at 150 dollars/year.

Last year our site received 1.5 million visitors. So we think listing with us will bring value to any business.

Stephen Vantassel, CWCP, ACP