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National Wildlife Control Training Program

National Wildlife Control Training Program

National Wildlife Control Training Program: Supplemental Species Information
National Wildlife Control Training Program: Supplemental Species Information

The National Wildlife Control Training Program (NWCTP) is curriculum designed to train individuals in the basic elements of becoming a nuisance wildlife control operator.  It was created by wildlife damage management experts, Stephen M. Vantassel, Scott E. Hygnstrom, and Paul D. Curtis, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Cornell University.

The authors developed this training because, unlike pest control operators, most states lack meaningful training requirements for wildlife control operators (WCOs). By creating this training, states have the ability to obtain a turn-key training program for licensing or certifying wildlife control operators.

We are grateful that in 2013 the State of Delaware has adopted the National Wildlife Control Training Program for licensing their wildlife control operators. We believe that our program will protect wildlife resources and enhance consumer safety when adopted by states. We hope that additional states will adopt the program and improve the professionalism within the wildlife control industry.

If you would like to learn more about the National Wildlife Control Training Program contact Stephen M. Vantassel at svantassel2@unl.edu. If you wish to purchase book version of the program visit http://nebraskamaps.unl.edu.

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 books are the Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd edition and The Practical Guide to the Control of Feral Cats. 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.

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National Wildlife Control Training Program

National Wildlife Control Training Program

Despite rapid growth within the wildlife damage management industry, many states still

National Wildlife Control Training Program: Core Principles and Information
National Wildlife Control Training Program: Core Principles and Information

lack meaningful training standards and requirements. Wildlife agencies often lack the staff, funding, and expertise required to create a training program for wildlife control operators (WCO). The authors, who bring more than 70 years of experience to the field, believe the time is right to provide a core training program for WCOs.

National Wildlife Control Training Program, 119 8x5x11-inch pages, is written by Stephen M. Vantassel, Paul D. Curtis, and Scott E.  Hygnstrom with technical assistance from Raj Smith and Lynn Braband.  This is a preliminary draft and is open for comments. The authors want state regulators, company trainers, and sole proprietors to know that the training is being adapted for online training. Training can be adapted to individual state and company needs.

Contents of the National Wildlife Control Training Program

Training consists of two sections: Section 1 delves into core training that every WCO should know regardless of state or animals being controlled. Section 2 covers the species and species types that WCOs would typically encounter. Species modules address biology, damage and its identification and effective control techniques available for management of the species.

Section 1 Core Training Modules:

  1. Principles of Wildlife Damage Management – Introduction to principles, definition of concepts, best practices concepts.
  2. Physical Safety – The section on physical safety (like ladder safety) and expand on details related to working in the field dealing with animal capture and certain control techniques.
  3. Wildlife Diseases – We discuss personal safety, personal protection equipment, common diseases, and the meaning and problems of zoonotic diseases.
  4. Site Inspection – The process and theory of on-site investigation of wildlife damage complaints.
  5. Overview of wildlife control methods – The overview of control methods prepares technicians for the control techniques they fill find in the species specific information.
  6. Animal Handling—Treatment and capture of free-ranging and trapped animals.
  7. Euthanasia & Carcass Disposal—Killing methods and options for the disposition of carcasses.
  8. Business Practices – Overview of standard business practices and legal issues.
  9. Legal and Ethical Issues – The importance of following federal, state and local laws. Demonstration of values, business and personal ethics, the ethical treatment of wildlife (animals in general) in the media.

Section 2 Species Modules

  1. Tree Squirrels (fox, gray, red, and flying): biology, damage, and control methods.
  2. (Other species modules are under development).

How to Purchase Your Copy

Books cost $20.00 plus shipping.  Contact store for bulk and dealer pricing.

Nebraska Maps and More

Phone (402) 472-3471  8-5 M-F  Central Time.  MC/Visa accepted.

On-line purchases  Click National Wildlife Control Training Program

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National Wildlife Control Training Program vol 2

National Wildlife Control Training Program, vol. 2. Supplemental Species Information

You may have already heard of the National Wildlife Control Training Program (NWCTP). This training program was developed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Cornell University to provide states and companies with a basic curriculum to certify and/or train workers in wildlife damage management. This same group has recently published (Feb, 2013) volume 2 in the National Wildlife Control Training Program series.

Volume 2 contains biology, damage, and management suggestions for 29 additional species. Each of these species is commonly found in the U.S. The information provides only what is necessary for a wildlife control operator to know to manage the species under real-world conditions. However, readers should understand that the text assumes readers have access to volume 1.  Like volume 1, this volume is also certified by the National Wildlife Control Operators Association.

NWCTP vol. 2. Supplemental Species Information
NWCTP vol. 2. Supplemental Species Information

Both publications can be purchased at

Nebraska Maps and More http://nebraskamaps.unl.edu or by calling Voice 402-472-3471.  Note the store is open during regular business hours but is on central time. It accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Dealer inquiries are welcomed.

Disclaimer

Though I am one of the authors of this text, I do not receive monies from the sale directly as it actually owned by my employer (the University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and Cornell University. Monies received, however, will potentially be used to fund my salary.

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.

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The National Wildlife Control Training Program

History on the National Wildlife Control Training Program

For those of you not familiar with this project, let me provide a little background. Regrettably, most states lack even rudimentary training requirements for the licensing of wildlife control operators (WCO). Part of the reason for this situation is the dearth of training materials and the fact that state wildlife agencies, already underfunded and overworked, don’t have the resources to create a program let alone administer it. Our program seeks to correct that. We have created a training program designed to provide beginning WCOs the fundamentals of the trade.

We will provide this training in multiple ways, including print (book forthcoming in January, 2011), online (January 2011) and in person if states desire that. This training will also be open to businesses wishing to train new workers.

Description of the National Wildlife Control Training Program

The training consists of two main parts. First is the core modules. Core modules are what we believe every WCO should know regardless of where they live. It’s written in a manner that makes it suitable for WCOs regardless of their respective state laws.

Part 2 consists of species modules. Each species module will address the biology, damage, and control methods related to that particular species. We anticipate that states or individuals can select which species they want to learn about. This allows individuals to learn about species that they are allowed to control.

The exam at the end will cover the modules that were selected.

In addition, states that wish to work with us, can edit the species modules so that only those techniques permitted in their state are discussed. Biology and range information can also be adjusted to reflect the specific facts in that respective state. These state specific training materials can then be printed and/or provided on-line. States won’t have to bear the costs of hosting or modification of materials as the user can bear the full price. What is that price? We don’t know at the moment because we are still preparing the document for publication. But we anticipate the on-line training (which will have additional training resources than what can be provided by the book) to be less than 200 dollars which will include the cost of the exam. Of course, advanced training modules will be provided in the future. If you are interested in providing advanced training, please contact me. We want to work with you.

Outline of the National Wildlife Control Training Program

Here is an outline of the National Wildlife Control Training Program

Part 1 WCO Core Training Modules

1. Principles of Wildlife Damage Management – Introduction to principles, definition of concepts, best practices concepts,.

2. Physical Safety – The section on physical safety (like ladder safety) and expand on details related to working in the field dealing with animal capture and certain control techniques.

3. Wildlife Diseases – We discuss personal safety, personal protection equipment, common diseases, and the meaning and problems of zoonotic diseases.

4. Site Inspection – The process and theory of on-site investigation of wildlife damage complaints.

5. Overview of wildlife control methods – The overview of control methods prepares technicians for the control techniques they fill find in the species specific information.

6. Animal Handling—Treatment and capture of free-ranging and trapped animals. .

7. Euthanasia & Carcass Disposal—Killing methods and options for the disposition of carcasses.

8. Business Practices – Overview of standard business practices. This is NOT a how to run you business.

9. Legal and Ethical Issues – The importance of following federal, state and local laws. Demonstration of values, business and personal ethics, the ethical treatment of wildlife (animals in general) in the media.

PART 2 Species Modules

Raccoon
Skunk
Bat
Beaver
Squirrels
Etc.

We are excited about this new development. Stay tuned or even better, stop by and see us at NWCOA’s convention in New Orleans Jan 13 and following.

Stephen Vantassel, Project Coordinator, CWCP, ACP
Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
School of Natural Resources
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
414 Hardin Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0974 U.S.A.
phone: 402-472-8961
fax: 402-472-2946
email: svantassel2@unl.edu
web site: http://icwdm.org

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About Stephen

Stephen M. Vantassel MNI, CNI, CWCP, ACP 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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