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 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.
I. CERTIFICATIONS:
II. TRAINING:
III. WILDLIFE DAMAGE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE:
A. FIELD:
Massachusetts Lic. Problem Animal Controller 1982-2004.
Connecticut Lic. NWCO 1994-6. "Preliminary Investigation of Pocket Gopher Trap Efficiency." 2005-10. Article submitted.
Founder of Wildlife Removal Service Inc. 1994-98.
Animal Control Officer for the City of Springfield, MA Oct, 93-Dec 95 & Chicopee 95-1998. Involved in the Mid-Atlantic Rabies Epidemic.
Animals controlled/trapped: Bat, Badger, Beaver, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Bull Frog, Canada Goose, Chipmunk, Coyote, Crow, Eastern Mole, Feral Cat, Columbian Ground Squirrel, Feral Pigeon, Flying Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, Great Plains Pocket Gopher, Hairy-tailed Mole, House Mouse, House Sparrow, Mule Deer, Muskrat, Nutria, Opossum, Peromyscus spp. Northern Pocket Gopher, Raccoon, Red Squirrel, Richardson's Ground Squirrel, Shrew, Snapping Turtle, Starling, Striped Skunk, Star-nosed Mole, Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel, Voles, Woodchuck, and Woodpecker.
B. Expert Witness:
Godnik Law, S.G., Superior, WI. May 2022.
Toll v. Scott. Fairfax, VA. November 4. 2009.
C. INTERNET:
The webmaster of www.icwdm.org 2004-2015.
Wildlife Damage Management Community of Practice with eXtension.org 2006-present
Wildlife Damage Expert for Allexperts.com since Pest Control 10/22/2000 Pests 10/22/2000 Animal Rights 1/3/2001 Wildlife DC 10/11/2006
IV. PRESENTATIONS:
Stephen can speak on a variety of wildlife control-related topics. Below is a list of topics he can discuss for you and your organization. All are hour-long topics unless otherwise noted. Topics can be modified to go shorter or longer.
Stephen has spoken for various groups and events, including the National Wildlife Control Operators Association, Wildlife Control Technology Seminar, American Society of Home Inspectors Annual Meeting, Kansas Pest Control Association, New York State Wildlife Management Association, Connecticut Wildlife Control Operator Association, Montana Environmental Health Association, Montana Sheepherders Association, Vertebrate Pest Conference, Wildlife Damage Management Conference, Ecological Society of America, Connecticut Master Gardener's Association, Pest Management Association of Alberta, and others.
V. PUBLICATIONS:
A. BOOKS:
Articles
Stephen M. Vantassel, 2012 Educator of the Year Award from the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA).
Stephen M. Vantassel, 2012 Educator of the Year Award from the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA).
VI. AWARDS
VII. OTHER WILDLIFE DAMAGE CONTROL INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES:
VIII. OTHER LIFE EXPERIENCES: