Dos & Don’ts: Wildlife

Expecting to catch roof rats we instead found flying squirrels.

There you are, soundly sleeping at 4:30 a.m. in the comfort of your bed, nestled in nicely beneath the down-filled comforter and 1,200-thread-count sheets when somehow, an otherwise foreign soundtrack inserts itself into your dream sequence. With time, the sounds grow louder, eventually garner your attention and bang, you’re awake listening to
what you immediately recognize as an animal moving about above.

Rifling through your mental index of critters quickly yields a short list of suspects. It’s spring, so it can’t possibly be the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. The footsteps are way too fast for raccoons, and we’re in the Southeast. It’s got to
be roof rats, right? With out-of-town business travel scheduled for that Monday, strict orders from The Boss to eliminate the intruders “immediately or sooner” call for action. Assuming roof rats, that Saturday morning found me in the attic setting 14 traps with a variety of baits at various places, prior to breakfast. Well, it certainly sounded like roof rats were responsible, so a sufficient number of traps were placed in suitable fashion to wreak unholy vengeance.

Twenty-four hours later, the uninvited guests were at it again — only worse. It sounded as if there were a number of them as they chased about the attic and the length of the soffit areas. But by about 6 a.m., things quieted down. Naturally, placing traps became Numero Uno on the weekend Honey-Do list. The traps were set and checked the next morning — with surprising results.

Oh Rocky, where art thou?

Our critters turned out to be flying squirrels. While residing and working in New York years ago, the morning
drive-time sports radio hosts were talking about a similar pest problem that occurred in the one host’s own home. The other host commented that there were no such things as flying squirrels, primarily because he had never seen one before. Most folks have not seen a flying squirrel, likely because these animals are nocturnal. Below are some wildlife control-related Dos & Don’ts for your review and use:

• Do properly identify exactly which animal pest(s) are present at the account prior to making key control program decisions.
• Don’t assume what the problem animal is based only upon a description of the sound the animals make, or on information provided by the customer or by other non-professionals.
• Do study up on animal scat identification, and acquire the latest guide or reference book for wildlife in your area so you will be better able to identify the pest animal present by the scat present.
• Don’t assume that animal scat will appear exactly as it does in reference book photos; it might vary from what is seen in reference materials.
• Do use a suitable digital camera to photograph scat and other characteristic physical evidence of pest wildlife, so that this evidence may be used for future reference.
• Don’t underestimate the value of building your own library of reference photos and animal evidence
• for training and identification purposes.
• Do study up on the biology, identification and behavior of the pest animals present within your geography so you are better prepared to recognize and deal with the situation successfully.
• Don’t assume that you will remember everything there is to know about every pest animal species. Refer to suitable references. It might be useful to create pest animal flash cards or “cheat sheets” that include key factors pertinent to your control methodology decisions.
• Do keep up with the latest wildlife control information, methodologies and techniques by joining your wildlife control trade association, reading industry publications, attending educational seminars and communicating with other experienced professionals within the industry.
• Don’t assume that you will remember everything you hear at a conference. You’ve invested your time in attending, so it’s wise to get the most out of the time by taking notes that will be useful for you to refer to at a subsequent time.
• Do investigate and understand the reasons the animal has become a pest at the account location being serviced. Doing so will help you to provide long-term solutions for your client.
• Don’t forget that trees trimmed to prevent animal access to a structure can grow back to provide an access route in the near future, and might require follow-up trimming to keep pest animals at bay.
• Do understand that certain animals might be protected in your state, and be sure to check with your local county or state wildlife control officer to assure you are in compliance with local regulations.
• Don’t forget to be suitably equipped and safety trained to avoid accidents when conducting wildlife control work. Such work often places us on a ladder, on a roof or doing tree work, all of which can
  be hazardous.
• Do review your insurance with your agent to ensure that you are properly covered for all aspects of wildlife
  control work, prior to conducting such work.
• Don’t underestimate the value of being properly equipped and trained to use your equipment in a professional manner.
• Do remember that certain pest species, such as Canada geese, might be protected under certain regulations, and might require federal permits to control.
• Don’t assume that because a pest animal species might be protected that there is nothing that can be done to successfully deal with the problem for your customer. Research your available options, and check with other experienced wildlife control specialists.

Bello is president of PJB Pest Management Consulting and author of “The Bed Bug Combat Manual.” He can be reached at paul.bello@att.net or via www.pest-consultant.com.