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If you like working outdoors, handling animals and soothing customers, a career in the wildlife control industry may be for you.

This page is dedicated to helping you learn about what it takes to get into this field.

Choosing a Career in Wildlife Damage Control

We have been asked for information on this career by a Vocational Career Counselor. ICWDM hopes to help career counselors to understand more about this occupation.

Definitions

Animal Control normally relates to city, county personnel involved with enforcement of leash laws. ACO's (Animal control officers) handle pets, like cats and dogs.

Animal damage controllers, Nuisance wildlife control operators, Problem animal controllers, Wildlife Control Operators are all synonyms.

These workers, by contrast, are people paid by customers to remove problem animals. While there is overlap between these two jobs, (as people can do both and often do) they are in many respects different. Animal damagecontrollers work year round. Fur trappers work in the fall and winter.

Pest Control is a different industry. Pest control deals primarily with bugs, mice and rats and often use pesticides. Animal damage controllers, by contrast, rarely use pesticides and handle wildlife such as squirrels, skunks, raccoons, moles, voles, beaver etc.

Trappers are normally fur trappers. Trappers are people who seek animals for their fur. This occupation is usually a hobby or a part time business at best.

Key Facts about Animal Damage Control

1. Most animal damage controllers are self-employed. They tend to be a very independent bunch and don't like working for others. However, some of the larger companies do hire workers. While not many have reached this size, the industry is maturing and so the opportunities for employment are growing. Normally, these companies are contracted by the customer for a specific problem, ie. squirrels in attic. The relationship ends when the problem is resolved. Sort of like the way people hire a plumber to fix a leak. You pay for the service and the plumbler leaves when the problem is resolved.

2. Many states require a license. These licenses will be issued through the state's division of fisheries and wildlife or similar sounding agency. Wildlife control is a controversial issue. Potential workers need to understand that humane issues are a prime concern. Failure to follow standard procedures can result in severe legal and publicity problems. The field is still lacking many regulations so entry into the field is relatively easy.

Occupational Requirements

• Physically demanding: Success in this field will requires walking, climbing ladders, scaling roofs, crawling under buildings and into attics. If you cannot lift 80 pounds or more comfortably, you would not be able to work with ladders. Animals can weigh anywhere from 2 pounds for a gray squirrel to 20 pounds with a raccoon to 50 pounds for a beaver. While the weight doesn't appear to be that high, remember, you will need to carry the trap away from your body which causes the weight to feel heavier due to reduced leverage. Carrying caged animals off roofs adds to the danger as the animal will run back and forth in the cage thereby shifting the weight of the cage. Failure to prepare for the change can cause a catastrophic fall off the ladder.
• Dangerous: Job exposes the worker to dangers from animals, heights and crawl spaces. Exposure to zoonotic diseases is a real risk.
• Methodical: Workers need to perform similar tasks with consistent accuracy and thoroughness.
• Responsible: Workers will need to remember where traps have been set. In some cases, dozens of traps located around a city will need to be remembered and checked daily no matter what the weather.
• Driver's license: Worker will need to be able to operate a light to heavy truck safely while under time pressure.
• Customer Relations: Workers will be required to have high customer service skills. Work is often done inside homes with customers watching.
• Phone skills is a definite must.
• Self-Supervision: Ability to work without supervision. Work is often lonely and without supervision of a boss or client.

Before Starting Your Own Business

Self-employment has its own set of unique challenges. Before taking the plunge read the S.M.A.R.T. Method of Beginning Your Business

Ten Tips Before Starting Your NWCO Business PowerPoint

Training Tools

Websites

http://icwdm.org That is right. You are here now. Take full advantage of the free materials available right here.

Books

Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage (1994)

Wildlife Removal Handbook rev. ed.

Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook rev. ed.

Being Kind to Animals

Wildlife Pest Control Handbook

Magazine

Wildlife Control Technology Magazine

This is the trade magazine of the industry. Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Assoc. This is the trade association of the industry.

Mentors

ICWDM suggests contacting NWCOA or NPMA leadership and asking them to suggest a person who is, 1. outside of your potential service area and 2. willing to allow you to ride with him/her for a few days to get the feel for what is involved in the business.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesistate to ask.

Click for more Training Information

University Publications

NWCO Best Practices Guide--Cornell Univ.