Yes, you read that header right. I want wildlife control operators (WCO) to support regulations and lobby for improved regulations governing their business and
industry. Why do think that WCOs should support regulations given that regulations will likely increase the cost of doing business? I understand that business owners supporting increases in regulations regulations is counterintuitive but my support for regulations draws on three main reasons. While any one of them is sufficient to support the case, the fact that they stand together and mutually reinforce each other makes for a strong case in deed.
WCOs Need a Guild
My first argument in support of regulations is that WCOs need a guild. A guild is a business with barriers to entry. Lawyers are a guild. You can’t be a lawyer unless you pass the Bar. A guild would help WCOs by limiting access to the wildlife control industry. Notice I said, limit, not prevent. By adding barriers, only those individuals who were serious about the industry would make the effort necessary to join. An immediate advantage would be to eliminate those fly-by-night WCOs who just hang a shingle one day and remove it the next.
Regulations Protect Customers
The second argument to support regulations lies in consumer protection. When WCOs are regulated, customers have a better chance of hiring a qualified WCO to resolve his/her wildlife complaint. Licensing, and hopefully insurance, also gives clients greater peace of mind that they are hiring a professional who is vetted by the State. Is the protection perfect? No. But it certainly gives more protection than having no regulations. In addition, regulations allow customers to ask the government to punish wrong-doers and thereby avoid having to go to court on their own.
Regulations Will Protect the Industry
Perhaps the most important benefit of regulations is the protections they provide the WCO and the wider industry. The fact is governments protect what they regulate. The WCO industry has many opponents, not the least, the animal rights protest industry. I agree that the antis know wildlife control work will never be banned. But they can enact laws that will make WCO work onerous. Regulations (good ones) help protect WCOs because when someone makes the BIG MISTAKE and gets all kinds of media attention and public outrage, regulated WCOs can say that person broke the law so we don’t need new regulations.
Certainly more can be said about the value of regulations for the WCO. But I hope these three points will help convince naysayers to at least consider revising their opinion.
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.
