What Is Wildlife Control?

Wildlife Control Plano is the professional management of wildlife that causes damage. The goal is to reduce damage to an acceptable level using various methods.

A wildlife control operator (WCO) is licensed or permitted to solve problems from nuisance wildlife situations, often for profit, while following all applicable state hunting and trapping laws.

Sometimes, a homeowner will find it necessary to trap and remove pest critters from their property. Whether you have a skunk under your porch or woodchucks digging up your garden, these animals can be a nuisance and a safety risk. Hiring a professional who can provide humane and effective wildlife control services is important. A professional will also be able to help with prevention options.

Trappers use various types of devices to catch and capture wild animals and birds, including traps, nets, snares, and deadfalls. The word “trapping” and its derivatives refer to taking or attempting to take any game animal or bird using a device designed, constructed, or made to close upon, hold fast, or confine1.

Fur trappers trap animals primarily for their fur, skins, and pelts. They often target a variety of fur-bearing animals, including beavers, muskrats, minks, foxes, coyotes, and raccoons. They may work with government agencies or private businesses to manage and control wildlife populations, preventing overpopulation and minimizing damage to crops or property.

Ranchers or farmers hire predator control trappers to reduce populations of predators that threaten livestock or croplands. These trappers may target animals like wolves, coyotes or mountain lions to prevent predators from attacking livestock or other farm products. Conservation trappers promote sustainable trapping practices and advocate for wildlife habitat protection. They may also engage in education and advocacy activities.

A body-gripping trap is a type of humane trap that targets the neck of the animal. This style of trap was first introduced in the 1950s and is commonly known as a Victor-Conibear trap. These traps can kill the animal quickly without causing unnecessary suffering or stress.

Nuisance wildlife trappers can work in a variety of environments, from urban neighborhoods to farmlands and natural habitats. They often encounter conflict between humans and wildlife, and must carefully assess and capture animals that are causing problems. In addition, they may need to identify and address potential threats to the health and well-being of the public and the environment.

Exclusion

The act or process of excluding, or the state of being excluded. This word is most commonly used to refer to a person or group of people being denied a certain right, privilege, or status, but it can also be applied to any type of barrier or restriction that prevents something from occurring.

Some wildlife control companies use exclusion methods to solve their customers’ problems with squirrels, raccoons and bats entering living areas of homes or accessing attics. Exclusion involves sealing up entry points and removing or installing barriers to wildlife, such as bird nets on fruit trees. This is usually done in conjunction with trapping and other removal techniques.

Although there is some overlap between pest control and wildlife control, wildlife control is a more specialized field that focuses on nuisance animals, including rodents. Pest control includes the treatment and extermination of infestations of insects, such as ants, spiders, termites, and ticks. Wildlife control, on the other hand, aims to prevent animal damage by physically excluding animals from property, rather than killing them with poisons or other toxic chemicals.

In order to perform professional wildlife damage management, wildlife control professionals must be knowledgeable of and trained in a variety of exclusion techniques. These skills are vital to maintaining high-quality, humane services. They should know that it is important to balance the needs of wildlife with those of humans and that minimizing wildlife damage requires more than simply trapping and removing individual species.

Whether working for a large corporation or on their own, WDM professionals must always work with the public to promote ethical and responsible approaches to dealing with wildlife-related issues. This may involve educating the public about wildlife behavior and habitat, as well as providing appropriate information on how to safely coexist with nuisance wildlife. Increasing public awareness will help reduce the number of calls for wildlife-related service and improve the image of the industry. It will also make it easier for the public to recognize a qualified wildlife professional when one is present. This, in turn, will help protect the public from unlicensed operators and those who do not adhere to rigorous standards of professionalism and knowledge.

Relocation

Wildlife is often a welcome part of the landscape, but it can become a nuisance when its numbers exceed people’s tolerance levels. The damage posed by overabundant animals may include property destruction, property damage, or health and safety threats. While there are many ways to manage wildlife problems, it is important to remember that humane approaches are the most sustainable and least expensive solutions.

Humane methods focus on preventing and mitigating wildlife-related conflicts by focusing on prevention and utilizing nonlethal tactics whenever possible. These tactics minimize suffering, stress, and harm for pest species. They also prioritize animal welfare, support coexistence with native species, and promote the preservation of natural habitats.

To reduce the population of wild animals, humane wildlife control strategies include trapping and capturing them in cage-style traps that allow them to escape unharmed and be relocated outside the problem area. These methods should be used in combination with exclusion and animal-proofing techniques to prevent future re-infestation.

Wildlife specialists are trained to work with a variety of animal species, including rodents, birds, squirrels, raccoons, and other small mammals. Their training allows them to safely trap and remove these nuisance animals from homes, businesses, and other structures. They can also provide recommendations for repair and prevention to avoid future invasions.

Unlike pest control companies, which focus on the extermination of unwanted insects and other small critters, animal removal services are focused on the capture and relocation of larger, more dangerous animals. This requires special licenses and a thorough understanding of the laws that govern the capture, handling, and dispatching of wildlife.

Wildlife management is an important aspect of land stewardship, and a good wildlife control specialist is skilled at using a variety of tactics to protect public health and safety, the environment, and property. Wildlife control specialists can recommend the best option for your situation after a thorough inspection. They can help you learn how to live with unwanted wildlife, and suggest other ways to reduce problems such as trimming trees and shrubbery. They can also assist you with the proper application of state laws regarding hunting and trapping.

Prevention

Ideally, the first step in resolving a wildlife damage situation is to prevent it from occurring. Preventative techniques such as storing bird seed and pet food in sealed containers, keeping weeds and brush away from buildings, putting up rodent-proof fencing around vegetable gardens, and storing firewood on racks rather than on the ground, can help reduce wildlife-related nuisances.

When pest control measures aren’t enough, a trained wildlife damage management (WDM) professional may be needed to help resolve the problem and keep it from happening again. A WDM is a professional who is certified by the state to solve nuisance animal problems in a humane manner. They are often called Wildlife Control Operators or Animal Damage Control Technicians, and they work for both the public and private sectors.

In general, a WCO will provide the following services:

Preventing wildlife damage requires a multifaceted approach. Many people who call for wildlife removal also implement prevention measures to ensure the unwanted animals don’t return. For example, installing door sweeps on doors can prevent rodents and other pests from entering the home. Also, removing fallen fruit from trees and storing bird seed, compost, and garbage in sealed containers can help deter squirrels, mice, rats, and other pesky pests.

Another important preventive measure is identifying pest access points and plugging them or closing them proactively, such as removing bird feeders from the property or building. Often, if an animal can’t access its food source, it won’t come back to the area.

The primary difference between wildlife control and pest control is that while pest control professionals deal with bugs and insects, a wildlife control specialist will work to protect the health and safety of humans, pets, and structures from wild animals such as bears, birds, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, etc. When hiring a wildlife control team, look for one that is reputable and transparent about the process and prioritizes humane methods. Your InterNACHI inspector can discuss your particular concerns and recommend a wildlife control solution for you.