Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC

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Attending Training

Wildlife control operators (WCOs) and pest control operators (PCOs) attend training events to improve their skills and to maintain their licenses. PCOs preparing to attend a training event.

PCOs preparing to attend a training event.

But as one who has attended many training events both as an attendee and as a presenter, I have a few tips to help attendees make the most of their time.

First, come with an open mind. Sure you may know a lot on a particular subject be it bedbugs or raccoons. Maybe you know more than the person giving the training. But regardless, you should take the time to either refresh your awareness of the fundamentals and you should be open to learning a new techniques because sometimes even the less experienced can offer something of value to the more experienced.

Second, bring a notebook. I am regularly surprised at how rare it is for attendees to bring notebooks. But don’t just bring any notebook, bring a notebook that will become used in the future for reference. I suggest getting a notebook, and using the first few pages as a table of contents. Then regularly add to the material as you attend various meetings. Over time, you can cross reference material so that you can find that bait suggestion for a species you normally don’t deal with. I have done this and found it helpful in reminding of things learned but long-ago forgotten.

Third, bring business cards. I think this is a no-brainer but frequently neglected. Training is about networking not just filling your brain with new knowledge. Sometimes who you know is more important than what you know. Meeting new people, even competitors can be quite helpful in improving your business. Who knows you may need that competitor to help you work on that “monster job” or help you lobby legislators to stop animal rights legislation.

Bottom line. Attending trainings may not be the highlight of your week, but a little preparation can make the experience more informative, profitable and maybe even a little more enjoyable.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, 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 along with several books (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. 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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Pricing

Many wildlife control operators (WCO) wonder how to set up their pricing schedule. It’s a difficult task because there are so many variables in a service business. How do you know where to set your pricing? Plus, to be frank, most people who get into wildlife control did it

Stephen M. Vantassel when he owned Wildlife Removal Service, Inc. in Springfield, MA.
Stephen M. Vantassel when he owned Wildlife Removal Service, Inc. in Springfield, MA. in 1998.

because they like working outside and with wildlife, not staring at a spread sheet. Some WCOs just call the competition and just copy or mimic the pricing of the competition. Copying is one way to do it but the problem is your costs may be much higher than theirs. If so, then you have essentially destined yourself to be underbidding yourself and putting your financial stability at risk. I think there is a better way.

So here are a few tips to help you establish your pricing.
Step 1. Determine what you need/want to make on an hourly basis. Whatever the number is, double it to cover costs of taxes, insurance, and other employment costs. If you want $25/hour you should charge at a rate of $50.

Step 2. Determine how long it takes you to do set up a standard squirrel removal job. Time yourself, as soon as you park in your own driveway and go through the steps of inspecting the house (yours) and setting up the traps. Go through the motions in an honest way. Stop the clock when you have finished with the client (spouse or friend) and put the ladder and equipment back and you get behind the wheel.

Step 3. Determine your home range. Keep in mind that you need to be paid for windshield time. I suggest your prime service area is 30 minutes from your home-base. That means add an hour to a service call because you have to be paid to drive too and from the job site. Add the miles too by converting the miles into dollars using the Federal government’s business mileage deduction number. In 2018, that number is 0.545/mile.

Step 4. Phone time. Customers take time on the phone. Add that in to your initial service.

Step 5. If you want to be thorough, calculate how much your business card, paperwork will cost per client.

Step 6. Add up all the time, multiply it by your service rate and then add the expenses of mileage and materials. That is what you should be charging for your initial visit to the job.

Certainly, there is more to say here but the above material gets you started. For info on the role of depreciation see Depreciation

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, 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 along with several books (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. 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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Euthanasia & Carcass Disposal

Surface carcass disposal is one, albeit a rare option, for disposing of animal carcasses. Photo: Stephen M. Vantassel
Surface carcass disposal is one, albeit a rare option, for disposing of animal carcasses. Photo: Stephen M. Vantassel

I recently gave a talk entitled, “Euthanasia & Carcass Disposal: Tips and Pitfalls” at the National Pest Management Association’s (NPMA) 2018 Pestworld in Orlando Florida on Friday, October 26. It was a tough time for a presentation as it was right after lunch (1:00 pm) and on the last day of the conference. Plus, let’s just say that animal euthanasia & carcass disposal are not the most riveting and profit making topics for a pest control operator (PCO) or wildlife control operator (WCO) to attend.

But I was grateful for the opportunity. I was honored that the NPMA chose me to present on this important and controversial topic. The fact is, unlike bugs, the public cares deeply about how vertebrate animals are killed and disposed of. Even if the animal is a pest, the public cares. I explained to the approximately 32 people in attendance, that failure to have proper animal handling protocols in place can put your business in a public relations nightmare. Not all publicity is good publicity.

Attendees learned the distinction between euthanasia and humane dispatch and why that distinction matters. Likewise, I spoke on why translocation is not necessarily a humane way to handle nuisance wildlife. I ended the presentation discussing various ways to dispose of animal carcasses. I described methods that would work in either rural or urban settings, and sometimes both.

If you would like to see the Powerpoint, visit my Academia.edu site and download the pdf.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, 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 along with several books (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. 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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WCOs and Dogs

WCOs and dogs may seem like a strange topic but a few moments of reflection would suggest otherwise. Wildlife Control Operators (WCOs) visit the homes of clients.

Sign warning people about dogs. Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.
Sign warning people about dogs. Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.

Lots of clients have dogs and dogs can bite. According to the Dogs Bite.org, between January 1 2005 and December 31, 2017, at least 433 people died from dog attacks in the United States. Granted 48% of the deaths were of children less than 9 years of age. Makes sense, children are more vulnerable. But don’t let your guard down. people in older groups including adults have been killed by dogs. Deaths are only part of the story as most incidents involve bodily injury, some quite severe, meaning that the victim required medical treatment.

Bottom line. WCOs need to be on the look out for more than just slippery sidewalks. They need to be paying attention to whether a domestic animal is on location and whether it can pose a threat to the WCO’s personal safety.

WCOs should protect themselves by following these suggestions:

  • Ask clients whether they have a dog on the premises when hired. Make it part of the phone inspection process.
  • Keep an eye out for signs of dogs when driving up to the job site. Are there dog food dishes present? What about dog toys? Is there a fenced area that seems quite secure? Is the grass destroyed by that fence line suggesting a dog spends time monitoring that fence?
  • Do you hear barking when you arrive?

Once you see a dog, don’t assume it’s friendly. Keep away from it unless the client suggests otherwise. The Centers for Disease Control has many more suggestions on how to prevent dog bites. I suggest reading their tips to keep you safe. If you have employees, take the opportunity to train them. A few minutes of training can save hours of lost work, pain, and expensive medical bills.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, 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 along with several books (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. 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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5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a WCO

5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a WCO

While I give tips on how to handle your own animal damage problems, there are times when you just want to hire a wildlife control operator (WCO). The problem is you don’t want to hire a bad one. Since Spring is upon us, I thought it might help my visitors evaluate contractors to find the best WCO. That is why I am giving you 5 questions to ask before hiring a WCO to handle your wildlife problem.

WCO (Wildlife Control Operator). Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.
WCO (Wildlife Control Operator). Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.

Before we get to the questions, you need to understand the difference between pest controller operators (PCO) and WCO, also known as Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO) also known as Problem Animal Controllers (PAC). A PCO is someone who handles bugs through the use of poison. A WCO is someone who handles vertebrate pests (animals with a backbone) with traps, exclusion etc. PCOs are licensed through their state’s Dept. of Food and Agriculture or Department of Agriculture. WCOs, if their state licenses them at all, will be regulated usually by the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife or Department of Natural Resources.

Obviously, the first thing you should do is to look for a WCO (Wildlife Control Operator) to handle your wildlife problem and not a (PCO) Pest Control Operator. Once you know what you are looking for you should ask the following 5 questions before hiring a WCO.

1. Ask how many years have you been a WCO? This question is not to be confused with how many years in the PCO (Pest Control Operator) business. Bug killing is very different from controlling wildlife. Too many PCOs start doing WCO work with little to no trapping or wildlife experience.

2. Are you licensed? Is the contractor licensed to do animal damage control work in the state you live in? While some states don’t require licenses, many do. Ask if the person has completed a state certified trapping course. While most trapping courses teach fur trapping (not nuisance work), going through the training gives at least information about state laws.

3. Do you carry liability insurance? A surprising number do not.

4. Can you send me a copy of the contract? Does the WCO provide a clear contract along with an explanation of what services he/she will and will not provide?

5. Ask if the WCO is a member of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA). Membership doesn’t prove competence, but it does show a certain level of commitment to the industry. Don’t just take their word for it. Contact the Association at NWCOA.com to see if the person is a member. Full disclosure, I am the Western Director for the Association.

These aren’t the only questions that you should ask, but they are an important start. You want your wildlife problem resolved inexpensively but also properly. Don’t let the stress of wildlife problems force you to make a bad hiring decision.

Stephen M. Vantassel, CWCP, 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 along with several books (http://kingsdivinity.academia.edu/StephenMVantassel). He is a sought after speaker and trainer. 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.