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Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACP, ACE
Stephen M. Vantassel's Bio
Stephen M. Vantassel is the Vertebrate Pest Specialist for the Montana Department of Agriculture (2015-present).
Formerly, Stephen M. Vantassel was the Program Coordinator of Distance Education-Wildlife Damage Management for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources from 2004-2014. Stephen filled the position vacated by Dallas Virchow, who moved in November 2003. Stephen became one of the first Problem Animal Controllers in Massachusetts and one of the first nationally Certified Wildlife Control Operators (CWCP). He founded Wildlife Removal Service, Inc., headquartered in his hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts, which he eventually sold in 1998. He also founded the Massachusetts Association of Problem Animal Controllers.
Stephen has discussed topics related to wildlife damage control on television, radio, and public settings. But his greatest impact is to be found in the area of publishing. He has articles published in various magazines and newsletters, including The Probe, Fur-Fish & Game, Trapper & Predator Caller, Animal Damage Control, etc. He is a former Assistant Editor and staff writer for Wildlife Control Technology Magazine and continues to write for them. He has also published several books, including, The Wildlife Removal Handbook, rev. ed., The Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook 3rd. Ed., and the National Wildlife Control Training Program vols 1-2. Stephen's publishing extends beyond the printed page to the web, where he had a "Living with Wildlife" column on Suite101.com.
Stephen M. Vantassel's Education
Stephen has a Doctorate in Theology. His dissertation was entitled, A Theological, Ethical, and Scientific Evaluation of the Christian Animal Rights Movement's Opposition to Wildlife Trapping. Did he publish his findings in a book entitled Dominion over Wildlife? An Environmental-Theology of Human-Wildlife Relations (Wipf and Stock, 2009). He believes his academic training and "real-world" animal damage control experience give him a unique perspective on this controversial topic. In addition, Stephen has an MS in Leadership Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2013).
Stephen is happily married to Donna Vantassel, a Nurse Practitioner in Lewistown, MT.
VII. OTHER WILDLIFE DAMAGE CONTROL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES:
- Contributor to the Pest Geek Podcast, 10/2018-present
- Q.& A. Column writer for Animal Damage Control from December 1993 to January 1995
- Asst. Editor of Wildlife Control Technology Magazine, March-April, 1999-2001
- Founder of Massachusetts Association of Problem Animal Controllers in December 1993. Registered with the state in 1996
- Former NWCOA Correspondent for the National Animal Damage Controllers Assoc
- Articles published in The Trapper-Predator Caller, Animal Damage Control, Probe, Wildlife Control Technology, Fur-Fish-Game, Condo Media, Pest Control Technology, American Society of Home Inspectors, and NACA NEWS
VIII. OTHER LIFE EXPERIENCES:
- Vertebrate Pest Specialist. Montana Department of Agriculture. 2015-Present
- Project Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 2004-2008
- Program Coordinator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009-2015
- Emergency Medical Technician, licensed in Massachusetts. Hospital Orderly, Johnson Memorial Hospital. Stafford Springs, CT. 1990-1991
