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- An error has occurred, which probably means the feed is down. Try again later.
Keystone Skills for Wildlife Control
Ladder skills are essential for WCOs
Operators
Finding good employees is an important but difficult task for business owners. Wildlife control operators (WCO) and Pest Control Operators (PCO) are no different. In order to grow in profitability, you have to have employees. But how do you find the right candidate(s) to hire?
Of course, you have to create a job description. A job description is absolutely necessary to help you determine what you need but also to help potential employees decide whether they have the skills necessary to fulfill the job. But if your job description is made properly it will be ineffective in helping you screen job applicants. Your job description must identify the absolute critical skills necessary for the job. Critical skills are keystone skills because they are essential to effective accomplishment of the task. After all some skills can be taught, but other skills are too difficult or require too much time to teach. I contend that some skills are so fundamental to a person’s character that you can’t teach it.
So What are the Critical or Keystone Skills?
I believe that the good WCOs must have the following skills:
1. Feel comfortable on ladders. No one is born with this trait but your candidate must not be afraid of heights. Workers afraid of heights will not be profitable for you unless you run a wildlife control business that handles turf animals only.
2. Able to be in confined spaces. Claustrophobia has no place in wildlife control. If your candidate can’t crawl into a tight attic or crawl space, then don’t hire him.
3. Ability to lift. Ladders are heavy. Candidates must have the strength to haul around a ladder that is long enough to gain access to second floor roofs (unless you live in an area where most houses are single floor). No worker should be required to lift a 40 foot ladder no matter how strong he is. It is just too dangerous and the lack of leverage can wrench even a strong back.
4. Emotionally able to kill animals. Wildlife control is not pretty. No matter what kind of service you provide, sooner or later your employees will kill animal. You have to know they can do this before you hire them.
5. Carpenter skills. Your technicians don’t have to be master carpenters (though it wouldn’t hurt), they do need to be able to use a ruler and basic tools (tin snips, portable drill, saw and other cutting tools, and hammer).
6. Ability to communicate effectively. Your candidate doesn’t need to have a silver tongue. But he must have clear communication skills. Reading and writing are a given.
Those are the essential skills. Everything else can be taught. So in your next help wanted ad, make sure you highlight these skills, or you may be interviewing candidates that will disappoint.
About the Author
Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator who helps individuals, businesses, and agencies resolve wildlife damage issues through training, writing, expert witness, and research. His latest book is The Practical Guide to the Control of Feral Cats. He can be contacted at stephenvantassel at Hotmail dot com.
Copyright
All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included.
The Limits of Quality
Customers may not want exceptional and costly service (Photo credit: ronploof)
Robert Cappos wrote an intriguing article entitled “The Good Enuf Rvltn” in the September 2009 issue of Wired Magazine (pp. 110-119). He tells a story about a company called “Pure Digital” which made a very inexpensive digital camera. The photos were good enough that Pure Digital sold 3 million of them. Cappos argued that while high quality is great, it often isn’t necessary to satisfy customer wants. Customers will frequently take a less expensive option provided the service or product is “good enough.” Therefore, companies that spend inordinate time producing high quality products actually over satisfy clients at best and hurt profitability at worst.
Over-Servicing Clients
I wondered how many wildlife control operators (WCOs) suffered from the same challenge with their own businesses. Some WCOs argue that pest control operators (PCOs; those that primarily handle insects) will never be able to compete with WCOs that deal with vertebrates. The argument goes that customers will want the company that provides better service(s). The problem with this argument is that it assumes clients want and will pay for the “better service” and that they would be able to recognize the better company. Both assumptions are highly questionable. The fact is customers frequently want and are satisfied with “good enough.”
Good Enough Service
Now some readers may think that I am recommending companies provide poor quality service. Nothing could be further from the truth. My point is simply that you may serve your customers just as well by providing A- service rather than spending a lot of energy trying to give A+ service. The bottom line is you want to fulfill the needs of your clients. You don’t help anyone by providing services that they don’t want. If the client can’t appreciate the value of an additional service then your spending excessive energy and resources on that service is detracting from the profitability of your business.
You either need to eliminate that service extra or educate your client on its value.
About the Author
Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator who helps individuals, businesses, and agencies resolve wildlife damage issues through training, writing, expert witness, and research. His latest book is the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd edition. He can be contacted at stephenvantassel at Hotmail dot com.
Copyright
All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included.
Protecting Bird Feeders from Squirrels
Bird feeders that feed animals other than birds are one of the surest ways to ensure that hiring a wildlife control operator (WCO) is in your future.
Many people claim that determined squirrels cannot be stopped and that they can bypass any barriers. Nonsense. Squirrels are not gods. Other than flying squirrels, all feeders can be made squirrel proof.
The feeder imaged to your right (photo by Stephen M. Vantassel) is squirrel-free. Just be sure it is more than 10 feet away from branches or roofs where a squirrel can jump from.
About the Author
Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator who helps individuals, businesses, and agencies resolve wildlife damage issues through training, writing, expert witness, and research. His latest book is the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd edition. He can be contacted at wildlifecontrolconsultant at gmail dot com.
If you would like your publication, video, or product reviewed, please contact the author at the e-mail above.
Copyright
All postings are the property of Stephen M. Vantassel and Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. Text (not images) may be reprinted in non-profit publications provided that the author and website URL is included. If images wish to be used, explicit and written permission must be obtained from Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC.
Getting WCOs Prepared for Zoonotics
Zoonotics are diseases transmitted from wildlife to humans. While trappers have been working with wildlife for centuries, it is still important for wildlife control operators to be aware of the zoonotics risks involved in controlling wildlife.
Doctors Are Not Looking for Zoonotics
Medical students have a saying, “When you hear hoof beats, don’t look for zebras.” The point is think of the obvious causes not the obscure. House M.D. may make good T.V. but it’s not normal or typical medicine. Unfortunately, for WCOs we’re not normal. Unlike the general public, we are involved and in close contact with wildlife. So make sure you remind your doctor that you work with wildlife.
Get Educated
Read the policy of the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services regarding zoonotics http://www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms/pdf/APHIS260a.pdf It can provide your company with a good start for establishing policies to protect your employees from zoonotics.
Carry the Card
To help remind your worker and his/her doctor that these ordinary sniffles might be from a zoonotic origin, have them carry the “card.” Use the wording found here http://www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms/pdf/APHIS260a.pdf and put your own company info on it. Remind your workers regularly to ensure that they show medical personnel about their activities with wildlife.
While the illness may not be zoonotic in origin, it might. It is good to be safe.
About the Author
Stephen M. Vantassel is a certified wildlife control operator who writes, speaks, and consults about wildlife damage management issues.
Evidence Collection for Wildlife Control Cases
I have received many requests from individuals looking for help identifying scat, tracks, damage etc. caused by wildlife. While most are not related to pending lawsuits, accurate collection of information and data is critical to proper identification.
What follows is a list of tips to help you make your case in a manner that will allow it to be stand up to scrutiny.
This document will continue to be edited as new information comes to light. Contact the author for additional details.
Principles of Evidence Collection
Provide Specific Information
Nothing hinders my assistance more than vague terms. Don’t say, “The hole is small” because, while “small: may mean something specific to you, it means little to someone else. After all, small compared to what?
- Measure as carefully as you can. Try to measure down to the 1/16 of an inch or millimeter.
- Provide specific dates and times.
- Provide city and state. Detail the habitat in your area. Is it treed, grassy, asphalt, near water, etc.
Take Quality Photos
Photos must provide investigators with three key pieces of information.
- context. Photos should show the setting in which the problem or situation has occurred.
- details of the incident. Photos must contain sufficient clarity to show what the problem actually is. This means photos must be crisp, well lighted, and containing enough mega-pixels to allow enlargement.
- permanent record. Photos should contain date and time when taken. Back ups should be made and kept in an off-site location.
Elements of Quality Photos
Quality photos must be in focus with good lighting and contrast.
Close up photos must have standard sized objects in the image (ideally rulers 90 degree rulers) to show scale and to help investigators handle parallax.
Photos must be large enough to allow viewers to zoom in for a closer look. Ideally, images 3 mega-pixels or higher are sufficient. Don’t get hung up on mega-pixels. The quality of the photo comes first. A poor photo that is 10 megapixels won’t beat a tack sharp photo at 3 mega-pixels.
Learn how to use your camera before you need it. Remember, digital cameras are set on the lowest setting from the factory. To obtain the largest sized picture, you will likely have to manually change the settings. Don’t assume the camera takes the largest photos automatically.
Stephen M. Vantassel is a Certified Wildlife Control Professional. He is a staff writer for Wildlife Control Technology magazine and helps the public and businesses resolve wildlife damage complaints.
