The mantra of the wildlife control professional

The author is currently president of NWCOA. PHOTO: MATTHEW ALLEN

No. 8 on the list of 10 debunked wildlife control myths is: Inspection isn’t necessary.

Read the full list of 10 wildlife control myths busted.

Well, it’s true if you enjoy failure. Inspection is key to ending wildlife problems. Not only does inspection identify the wildlife invaders utilizing a structure, it also identifies the areas that need attention to provide wildlife-free structures for your clients. In addition, those areas needing exclusion provide revenue, so a full inspection detailing wildlife-related issues is now the norm.

The mantra every wildlife control professional (WCP) should always follow at every account is Inspect – Remove – Monitor – Repair:

• Inspection identifies the species, the removal techniques to be used, any entry points and the repairs that will be necessary.
• Removal is key to moving to the next step. It can include trapping, removal by hand and/or one-way doors.
• Monitoring is perhaps the most important step, yet it’s often skipped or misunderstood. Proceeding to repair without a monitoring process can result in wildlife being trapped inside the home or other issues you don’t want to deal with. Animals trapped outside the home may result in additional damage to the structure. Trap a female away from her young, and the damage can be extreme. Monitoring can be achieved with movement indicators, security cameras and/or other video recording systems.
• Repair is the final step, and can include primary entry points as well as other areas of the structure that could allow future wildlife entry.

HOLT is owner of Advantage Wildlife Removal, New Richmond, Ohio, and current president of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA).