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Commercial Drone License

Interested in using a drone, or more technically “small unmanned aircraft systems” (sUAS), for your wildlife control business? Then you will need to

Drone (sUAS)
Drone (sUAS) flying over a remote area.

obtain a commercial drone license. The Federal Aviation Administration requires individuals who wish to use drones (sUAS) as part of a business need to obtain a commercial drone license, also known as I recently passed the test and thought I would explain the process.

Steps in the Commercial Drone License

First, you must register your drone with the FAA whether you are a hobby or commercial flyer. Cost is five dollars and is good for a couple of year. To register, go to https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/register_drone/
Second, to obtain your commercial drone license you must follow the requirements contained in Part 107 Rules. The following link https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/ contains links to the Part 107 Rules and links to the steps to becoming licensed.

Studying for the Commercial Drone License

The key issue for you as a wildlife control operator (WCO) is preparing for the 107 test. Having just passed the test on August 7, I can tell you that preparation is key. The test is 60 multiple choice questions (3 possible answers per question). You have two hours to finish. Cost is 150 dollars.
In addition to the study materials provided by the FAA, you should consider taking the time to view the following YouTube training video https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=6_ucCKFJUCU. I found this one to be helpful. There are other free videos available as well. I suspect they will be helpful but I warn you that the FAA keeps changing the test over time. Consider when the video was created and don’t assume that everything this or that video says will be true for answering your test.

I signed up for a prep course, RemotePilot101.com. I found it helpful, not only in studying for the commercial drone license, but also for reviewing points that should be followed when I begin flying. But as valuable as RemotePilot101 was for me, I had several questions that I was not prepared for. Fortunately, you only need a 70% score to pass, so you can miss a few.

Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC (WCC) has not received any financial incentives to mention brand-name products in this blog post. 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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Vertebrate Pest Handbook 2nd Ed

Vertebrate Pest Handbook 2nd Edition

Vertebrate Pest Handbook, 2nd ed, by Dr. Austin M. Frishman
Vertebrate Pest Handbook, 2nd ed, by Dr. Austin M. Frishman

After being out of print for some time, Dr. Austin M. Frishman’s classic, Vertebrate Pest Handbook 2nd ed is now available as a reprint.

Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC publishing decided to make the second edition available because even though the book was published in 1999 and some of the information, such as some of the tips for rodenticide use are no longer appropriate due to changes in regulations and standards of practice, the Vertebrate Pest Handbook 2nd ed still contains a lot of information that technicians will find helpful.

Dr. Frishman smartly wrote The Vertebrate Pest Handbook 2nd ed in an easy to read question and answer format allowing readers to absorb a vast amount of information via bite-sized chunks. This text is perfect for companies looking for easy to create quizzes to test technician knowledge.

Book Contents

This 200-plus page book is broken down into the following chapters:

  1. Rodents in general
  2. Norway rats
  3. Roof rats
  4. House mice
  5. Rodent diseases
  6. Non-commensal rodents
  7. Pest vertebrates other than rodents
  8. Non-toxic rodent control methods
  9. Rodenticides
  10. References for training

The book is complete. While there are some font issues due to challenges with the scanning process, none affect readability. To reduce costs, the photos were converted to black and white.

Purchases who register their purchase with Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC are eligible for a 20% discount on the revised edition (commensal rodent edition) when ordered within 30 days of notification. Publication of the commensal rodent control edition is planned for 2020.

Orders

At $12.25 plus shipping and handling, this 200 plus page book is priced to sell. Copies are available at http://www.lulu.com/shop/stephen-vantassel/vertebrate-pest-handbook/paperback/product-24165050.html

For bulk orders, contact Stephen M. Vantassel via the e-mail below.

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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Pest Geek Podcast

One of the key benefits of the smartphone lies in its ability to open up a world of educational opportunities for their owners. If you are like me, you have a lot of alone time during the day where you are doing some easy task that doesn’t require a lot of mental energy. This means you have mental energy to do something else. Rather than listen to some silly song on the radio, why not put that time to good use by expanding your education? Podcasts are a great way to do that. I am proud to announce that I am one of the regular contributors to the Pest Geek Podcast. The Pest Geek Podcast is about all things related to pest control.

Pest Geek Podcast
Pest Geek Podcast

My podcast, “Living the Wildlife”, publishes once a week. I cover topics related to wildlife control, also known as vertebrate pest control or animal damage control. If you are interested in expanding your business into the wildlife control field or just want to hone your skills on wildlife control or insect control, then let me invite you to try a few episodes of the Pest Geek Podcast.

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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Wildlife Expo Myrtle Beach 2019

Want to make more money? Want to decrease your liability risks while increasing the quality of your service? How about learning from some of the best wildlife control operators in the United States? If you answered, “yes”, to any of these questions, then you should plan to attend the Wildlife Expo in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, February 4-9, 2019. 

Training session at NWCOA's Wildlife Expo.
Training session at NWCOA’s Wildlife Expo.

The Wildlife Expo is the annual trade conference sponsored run by the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA, pronounced NEW-Koh-Ah). NWCOA is a professional association dedicated to training, organizing and enhancing the growing trade known as wildlife control.
Training classes follow two main subject lines. One line covers the control side of the WCO business. Tips on handling birds, trapping, tools, repairs, etc. fall under this category. The other line, focusses on business issues, such as marketing, legal, insurance, etc. The two lines are run concurrently. So, in (almost) each session, you will have a choice of a business-related subject or a control related subject. Take for example the 11:30 am -12:30 pm session on Friday, February 8. One class is entitled, “Increasing Customer Happiness and Your Revenue Through Exclusion” while the other is “When It’s Time to Grow Your Business.”

Attendees regularly remark how the Wildlife Expo helped them increase business revenue. But education is not all. Networking is a key element of the event. Attendees can meet key industry vendors, learn about new products and tools. Of course, I haven’t mentioned the importance of networking. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of having personal connections. Need personalized advice on a particular problem you are having in your business? I doubt you can call your competitor. But what about a colleague in another state that you met at the Expo? What would be the economic value of that kind of “service.”

Want to learn more? Visit http://nwcoa.com/we2019.html That link will take you to the full-color brochure as well as the registration page. If you write out the pros and cons, I am confident that the pros will win out in spades. So why not sign up today?

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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NWCOA Training in Minnesota & Alabama

National Wildlife Control Operators Association

Presents two training events in Minnesota & Alabama.

September Midwest Regional Wildlife

Control Training Event 

Wood Lake Nature Center

6710 Lake Shore Dr.

Richfield, MN 55423

Pesticide recert credits in Cat A&P awarded by MN Dept. of Agriculture.** National Wildlife Control Operators Association NWCOA

National Wildlife Control Operators Association NWCOA

**Both Bat and WCOTC training courses must be attended to earn pest re-cert credits.

Bat Standards Certified Training

September 21, 2018 – 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

This NWCOA certification course is designed to aid in the survival of bats in North America, as well as educate those who perform bat exclusion services in residential and commercial structures. Upon completion of this course and successful passing of a test, the WCO will become NWCOA Bat Standards Compliant, receive a certificate and have use of the logo.

The Bat Standards Certified Course (Part 1) covers bat biology (little brown, big brown, free-tailed, and pallid bats), bat behavior, bat identification, bat morphology, service agreement language for bat removal and guano removal, seasonal restrictions, inspection techniques, equipment, safety, detailed exclusion techniques, job pricing, decontamination techniques, rabies, bat handling, updated white-nose syndrome information, and much more.

**This class is a prerequisite to the Bat Standards Certified, Part 2 being offered in Minneapolis in Spring 2019!

$175 members/$250 non-members

NWCOA Wildlife Control Operator

Training Course

September 22 & 23, 2018   8:30 am – 5:00 pm 

NWCOA brings this two-day certification course to Minnesota to train new and current WCOs that perform wildlife management services in or on residential and commercial properties. Upon completion of this course and successful passing of a test, the WCO will become a NWCOA Certified Wildlife Control Operator, receive a certificate of completion, and use of the logo.

The name of this course has recently been changed! It was previously known as the Basic Wildlife Control Operator Training Course, but since it is anything but basic, we dropped that word! This course provides a broad overview of the animals commonly managed by WCOs and is taught by practitioners who share insightful solutions to many of the challenges our industry faces everyday!

$300 members/$400 non-members

NWCOA Presentation of Bird Barrier
Certified Installer Course
September 24, 2018 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Birds cause millions of dollars of damage to homes, commercial properties, government buildings and industrial facilities each year. The Bird Barrier certification training course will help you determine which bird control product is suited for solving any bird problem and how to install that product on your client’s property. Upon completion of this course and successful passing of a test, the WCO will become a Bird Barrier Certified Installer and receive a certificate.

The Bird Barrier certification training course will provide an introduction to bird control, bird biology and habits and talk about bird pressure. The class will discuss how to choose bird control products, and how to sell them to your customers. Finally, we will do hands-on mini installs on several products.

 

$175 members/$250 non-members

Registration Now Open! Visit nwcoa.com to register!

Registration brochure

NWCOA® Shooting in Sensitive

Environments Level 1 & 2

Birmingham, AL

October 15-16,2018

A unique opportunity to take one or both courses!

Designed to train new and current WCOs, the courses provide classroom instruction with hands-on shooting range experience. Professional instructors provide intensive training in shooting accuracy, special safety considerations and effectiveness in shooting in non-traditional shooting locations. Participants will experience high level training in ballistics, shot choice and placement, and overal firearm use suitable for wildlife damage management. Please bring your own long-rifle (caliber must be no smaller than .17 HMR and no larger than .30 cal), at least 200 rounds (factory loads only!), personal eye and ear protection. (400 rounds if taking both Level 1 & 2)

Earn the coveted NWCOA Certified Urban Marksman (Level 1) and the NWCOA Certified Urban Sharpshooter designation (Level 2).

NWCOA® Shooting in Sensitive Environments – Level 1 – October 15, 2018

Level 1 covers the basics of marksmanship (7 fundamentals); how to obtain a proper zero, gear suggestions, and gear evaluations. The curriculum is based on the need for efficient marksmanship capabilities and will help determine whether or not success or failure hinges on the shooter or equipment being used. A Level 1 test will be required to pass the course.

NWCOA® Shooting in Sensitive Environments • Level 2

October 15 & 16, 2018

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Level 1 is required. Level 2 utilizes all of the marksmanship fundamentals developed in Level 1. The curriculum is based on the need for proper gear/equipment and begins teaching proper decision making skills. A Level 2 test will be required to pass the course.

NWCOA® Shooting in Sensitive Environments • Combined Level 1 & 2

For individuals who have completed Level 1 but would like a refresher, you may take the whole two-day course again. Individuals may also sign up to take both courses simultaneously – instructors will continually assess your progress during Level 1 to determine if you are eligible to be fast-tracked into Level 2.

The registration fee includes lodging and meals. Lodging is provided in climate-controlled bunkhouse style rooms. More details will be provided upon registration.

NWCOA® adheres to a no alcohol policy for the 12 hours prior to this course and during the entire length of the course. In addition, our range and housing facility has a strict no alcohol policy.

Registration Now Open! Visit nwcoa.com to register!

Registration brochure

Save the NWCOA WILDLIFE EXPO Dates!

Feb 5 – 9, 2019 

Marriott Myrtle Beach Resort & Spa at Grand Dunes

Myrtle Beach, SC

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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