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Bad Trade Associations

Bad trade associations. Now what does that mean? I am referring to those that complain about their pco or wco trade association. They will say, “I won’t join that trade association because they don’t do anything.” That trade association just takes my money, etc. etc. Now I am not going to tell you that there are no bad trade associations. I am sure there are. I am simply going to ask, are you sure that your criticism is valid? In other words, wouldn’t it be a good idea to give the leadership of the trade association the benefit of the doubt before launching into a litany reasons why you think they are bad?

icon of a courtroom gavel
The gavel is an iconic symbol of courtroom and committee proceedings. Image: Microsoft Office Icon.

In my experience with trade associations, criticisms fall into three categories.

Different Goals

Some conflicts between members/non-members and association staff/leadership occur because the association has different priorities than the member/non-member. This should be immediately apparent but is often forgotten. The individual has a specific issue that he/she would like solved. But the association is dealing with threatening regulation that could eliminate a pesticide class or trapping method. One could say, “Why doesn’t the association handle both?” A fair question but everyone should understand that most associations are small and underfunded. So tasks/issues must be prioritized.

Bottom Line: Before criticizing that your issue hasn’t been dealt with have you considered all the issues facing the association?

Different Time Frames

Another conflict between members/non-members and association leadership relates to time frames. In other words, how long it takes to achieve a desired goal. Business owners are used to fast decision making. The problem is in an association it takes a committee to make decisions. So think about how to get several type A personalities together to make a decision? Not always pretty. Committees are always slower than individuals, even when the committee functions well.

Bottom Line: Before criticizing the association’s inaction, make sure you have given it enough time to follow through.

Different Personalities

Different personalities refers to the tension that arise from how different people deal with controversial topics. Think Myers-Briggs. Some people are analytical, others are global, some make fast decisions, some make very slooow decisions. These differences create conflicts. Sometimes, the conflicts in personality become so big that they become an ego competition that surpasses the level of the original dispute. The original issue was forgotten and the dispute turns to, “He insulted me……..” etc. etc.

Bottom Line: Before you criticize the association or its leadership, have you considered whether your dispute is over issues or is it over ego and personality.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel) along with several books (https://wildlifecontrolconsultant.com/store-2/). Listen to his podcast at PestGeek Podcast (https://pestgeekpodcast.com/). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. 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.

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Armadillo Baits

Bad Armadillos

Profile view of a nine-banded armadillo.
Nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Photo:
Hollingsworth, John and Karen, USFWS.

Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) are cool. These armored animals are a unique species on America’s southern landscape. The one common to the United States is the nine-banded armadillo. but as cool looking as they are, their quest for invertebrates in the lawn can leave lawns in a shambles.  In the state of Georgia, extension agents claimed that 10% of the calls received for information focused on armadillos. Clearly, armadillos are big problem in the southern states.

The Armadillo Challenge

You may think, well I will just bait a cage trap and get rid of the offending armadillo. Not so fast. What bait would you use? Turns out that there isn’t a bait that shines out as a clear winner in the “attractiveness to armadillo” game. Am I saying that there is no “armadillo bait”? I’m not telling you. It’s researchers that are saying this. I am just the messenger.

In 2005, researchers, Daniel J. Gammons, Michael T. Mengak, and L. Mike Conner, published an article entitled “Evaluation of Attractants for Live-trapping Nine-banded Armadillos in the Wildlife Management Publication Series (WMS-05-04), Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia. Their study sought to find the best lure to attract armadillos to cage traps.

They looked at 11 different armadillo baits and lures:

  • Live night crawlers
  • Live crickets
  • Rotten chicken feed
  • Whole eggs
  • Rotten eggs
  • Bananas
  • Marshmallows
  • Sardines
  • Vanilla wafers
  • Moistened soil
  • “Armor plate” a commercially available lure

They tested these armadillo baits between April and July 2004 in the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center in Newton, GA. Out of 863 trap nights, only 4 of the armadillo baits caught an armadillo and then only one armadillo was caught for each bait. Those four baits were, crickets (94 trap nights), rotten eggs (52 trap nights), moistened soil (44 trap nights) and “Armor Plate” a commercial attractant (102 trap nights).

Evaluation of Armadillo Baits

Before you convince yourself that effective baits were the four armadillo baits that caught an armadillo, understand that there was no statistical difference between the effectiveness of these baits versus an unbaited cage trap. That’s right. You had as much chance to catch an armadillo in an unbaited trap as a baited one. Now, does this mean that there is no preferred bait for armadillos? No. Perhaps these baits don’t work well in the spring and summer. Maybe they would work better in other months. Maybe there is another bait that would work better. Maybe the baits work better in urbanized areas. So while this research is certainly saddening, it is not the final word.

Bottom Line

Understand that if you are not having success baiting an armadillo, it might be because armadillos don’t like bait. You will likely need to use a different trap set to capture them. But that is for another blog.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel) along with several books (https://wildlifecontrolconsultant.com/store-2/). Listen to his podcast at PestGeek Podcast (https://pestgeekpodcast.com/). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. 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.

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Do Pigeon Droppings Corrode Limestone?

Do pigeon droppings corrode limestone buildings? You would think this question has been definitively solved, but it appears that at least by 2004, it hasn’t. No one doubts that pigeon (Columba livia) excrement is not only visually disgusting but also a potential source of disease and allergens. But it was unclear as to whether pigeon droppings corrode limestone, a common stone used in historic buildings.

Pigeon Dropping Research

Picture of pigeon droppings splattered on sidewalk.
Pigeon (Columba livia) droppings on a concrete sidewalk.

An article by Miguel Gomez-Heras, David Benavente, Monica Alvarez de Buergo and Rafael Fort entitled, “Soluble salt minerals from pigeon droppings as potential contributors to the decay of stone based Cultural Heritage” published in the European Journal of Mineralogy (16:505-509) looked at whether accumulated pigeon droppings could be a source of salts and low pH that could damage limestone.

They investigated piles of pigeon droppings that were almost 12 inches deep that were not exposed to rain. Their samples included both dry and fresh droppings. They used the samples in two different tests. Test one sought to determine the droppings’ insoluble inorganic solids and salt content. The second test looked at the pH of the feces when mixed with water. They then used some of the liquid/material from the second test to apply to blocks of highly porous micritic limestone so that they could see what damage, if any occurred to the limestone.

Pigeon Droppings Corrode Limestone

Researchers found that when water mixes with pigeon droppings, the resulting liquid is not only acidic but very salty. These findings, say the researchers, contradict that of other researchers who argued that pigeon droppings had limited negative effects on building stones. The article’s authors contend that pigeon droppings are in fact a significant source of salts capable of damaging historical buildings as well as diminishing their visual beauty. What is interesting from the article was how salts and the crystals associated with them broke limestone grains thereby damaging the limestone’s integrity.

Bottom Line

Keep pigeon droppings away from limestone because the droppings will degrade the limestone.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel) along with several books (https://wildlifecontrolconsultant.com/store-2/). Listen to his podcast at PestGeek Podcast (https://pestgeekpodcast.com/). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. 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.

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Expert Witness Part 2

drawing of a gavel
The gavel is an iconic symbol of courtroom and committee proceedings. Image: Microsoft Office Icon.

Last week, I explained what an expert witness was and how you could become one. This week, I wanted to provide some tips to keep in mind should you be asked to be an expert witness. Before going any further, let me state that I have only been asked to be an expert witness once. My point being that I am not an expert at being an expert witness. Nevertheless, I think my experience, as limited as it is, will help others shorten the learning curve for them. I hope you will agree.

Me? An Expert Witness?

If the lawyer decides that you would be a good candidate for his client, you will be asked if you are interested in being an expert witness. It is essential that you begin to do your own due diligence before agreeing to work for the attorney. First, you need to be sure that you could properly speak to the case under review. Repeat back to the attorney your understanding of the case and how you think you would be able to speak to the situation. Confirm that your perception matches what the attorney thinks.

Problem of Time

Next ask yourself whether you have the time to give to the project. You will likely have some reading to do. Also, you may have to travel, and travel on short notice. Keep in mind that being an expert witness can be quite disruptive to your schedule. Courts don’t care about your schedule. Your attorney will try to give you as much notice as he/she can, but in the end, they can’t be sure when you will be needed as trials develop a life of their own. Sometimes things go fast, other times they don’t.

Question of Money

You will need to determine a pay rate. At minimum, your rate should be what you would earn from wildlife control, the good paying jobs plus a hassle factor. You may want to consider a higher hourly rate when you are in the city where the court/mediation trial is being held. Alternatively, you could charge a higher rate during the time you are at the courthouse and/or testifying. Don’t lowball your rate but simultaneously don’t charge lawyer rates. You are the witness not the attorney. You want to charge enough to make the job worth your full attention but not so much that your client goes bankrupt trying to pay for you.

Bottom Line

Being an expert witness is exciting and stressful. But it isn’t for everyone. Hopefully, my limited experience will help your first-time as an expert witness go smoothly.

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Expert Witness Part 1

An expert witness is an individual that is retained by a lawyer to provide technical testimony on behalf of a client. An expert witness may be used in a criminal or civil trial. Sometimes expert witnesses are used during mediation as I was about 10 years ago.

Man in a business suit
Wildlife control operators are needed as expert witnesses. Photo: Pexel.

Becoming an Expert Witness

The process of becoming an expert witness is part chance and part work. The work part is pretty simple to grasp but difficult to accomplish. Study and learn your field better than most. This can include academic degrees, but academic work isn’t necessary for all fields. Experience matters as well as being recognized as a leader in your field by peers. Publications can help raise your profile but again, publications are not a requirement. The chance part is that there needs to be a lawsuit involving your area of expertise and an attorney must find and select you. Several websites are dedicated to listing expert witnesses. Getting listed on them, can’t hurt your chances of being found.

Being Selected as an Expert Witness

Once an attorney thinks you can help his/her client, you will be contacted. The attorney or her aide will briefly describe the case, inquire about your credentials and experience, and gauge your point of view. Ultimately, the attorney has to determine if you can speak confidently concerning the situation from a point of view that will help his client win the case. If your bias is in favor of low or non-toxic pesticides, it is unlikely that a lawyer defending a chemical company will hire you. Keep in mind, that the attorney’s opinion is just the first step. The final decision as to whether you meet expert standards will be determined by the judge or mediator.

Even if you are an expert in your field, being an expert witness is not for everyone. But more on that in the next blog.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, ACE, is the owner of Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC. He helps people restore their balance with nature through publishing, training, consulting, and the internet. He has published numerous articles in trade and academic publications (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel) along with several books (https://wildlifecontrolconsultant.com/store-2/). Listen to his podcast at PestGeek Podcast (https://pestgeekpodcast.com/). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. If you would like to have Stephen speak at your event or use his consultation services, send an e-mail to wildlifecontrolconsultant@gmail.com. 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.

About Stephen

Stephen M. Vantassel MNI, CNI, CWCP, ACE Bio Stephen M. Vantassel is the Vertebrate Pest Specialist for the Montana Department of Agriculture (2015-present). Formerly, he 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 … Learn More

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