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Free Information

Free information. Who doesn’t love the sound of free be it free stuff, free service or free information. Politicians love to use the word free even though everyone should know that the government never does anything for free. But is information ever really free?

Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd Ed. Cover by Stephen M. Vantassel
Wildlife Damage Inspection Handbook, 3rd Ed. Cover by Stephen M. Vantassel

Is There Free Information?

I once had an argument with a wildlife control operator (WCO) who claimed that the information I provided is available for free. Therefore, if I understood him correctly, by charging for the information I was in effect ripping people off. I snidely responded to him by saying, and I paraphrase, “Information is free if you have the time to look, have access to the right resources, find the right relevant resources, correctly understand those resources and apply the information to found in those resources, then yes, information is free.”

Need for Context

My point is simply just because you have access to Google does not mean that you have access to the right information or that your internet search has revealed the right information. Lots of information on Google or the net, is simply wrong or more frequently out of balance or context. Google searches frequently don’t provide context for information, not because there is something wrong with the search but because people rarely read enough to understand how the information fits into the bigger picture.

You may have heard the phrase, “A little knowledge is dangerous.” It’s a true statement because when you only have a little information, you often think you know more than you actually do and that arrogance can lead to some very dangerous conclusions.

Consultation Fees

When you pay for a consultation with Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC you are paying for

  • Access to information you likely don’t have available
  • Ability to synthesize information in an understandable and usable way
  • Time to search and acquire information which allows you to spend your time in more profitable activities

Bottom Line

Can you search for information on your own? Certainly. My books and articles are available, many for no additional cost, to those wishing to read them. The internet also has lots of information both good and bad if you want to take the time to surf. But if you have better things to do with your time, then perhaps a consult with Wildlife Control Consultant, LLC is worth the price for you.

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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Kindle Book

Kindle Book

Wildlife Pest Control Handbook by Philip J. Nichols with Stephen M. Vantassel (2017).
Wildlife Pest Control Handbook by Philip J. Nichols with Stephen M. Vantassel (2017).

Philip J. Nichol’s book, Wildlife Pest Control Handbook, has been revised by Stephen M. Vantassel and is now available as a Kindle Book. This is the fourth revision of the text and readers should appreciate how the text has been thoroughly updated to better account for modern laws and work practices while remaining true to Nichol’s practical voice. The text has additional images and content as well. The wildlife control industry has not been an early adopter of e-book technology. However, Stephen thought it would be beneficial to make this text available to a wider audience, those comfortable with technology but still needing quality information about starting a wildlife control business.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BMMY8WH?ref_=pe_2427780_160035660 available at Amazon.

If you prefer the hardcopy, visit Wildlife Pest Control Handbook.

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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M-44s and Domestic Dogs

M-44s are devices that eject sodium-cyanide into the mouth of canines that pull the device. They are outstanding tools for the control of coyotes (Canis latrans) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). While important tools for wildlife damage management, M-44s do have a draw back, namely M-44s and domestic dogs can be a lethal combination if domestic dogs happen to interact with them.

M-44 to the left of the bleached bone. Photo by Anonymous.
M-44 to the left of the bleached bone. Photo by Anonymous.

Now all legal users of M-44s want to reduce/eliminate non-target kills. In fact the label requires applicators to follow stringent and somewhat restrictive protocols in the use of M-44s. There are several strategies to prevent domestic dogs from interacting with these devices.

  1. Instruct the landowner to restrain his/her dogs during the time the M-44s will be in the pasture.
  2. Place the M-44s in areas removed from where the dogs normally roam.

Now those are common sense suggestions. But there is another option. It’s not a perfect solution but just another technique. What you do is insert capsaicin tablets in the M-44s. The dogs that bite and pull the devices will get a mouthful of bitter capsaicin. This difficult experience is enough to train dogs to avoid the devices in the future.

Note, it’s not a guaranteed solution but it can be a helpful one to offer a landowner who is resistant to restrain his/her dogs.

Stephen M. Vantassel is certified in the use of M-44s.

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How Many House Sparrows?

Paying attention to details is critical in wildlife control. So how many house sparrows can you find in this photo? Scroll below to see the answer.

IMG_3209.JPG
How many house sparrows can you see in this photo? Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.

The answer is

1 on the roof

8 on the fence

1 in the bush

So the total is 10!!

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Rachel Gehringher-Wiar

Dear Lincoln Journal Star,

I am writing in regards to the article on Saturday, July 19, 2014 entitled best critter defense for her garden? An outdoor cat. On page 8 of the neighborhood Extra by Rachel Gehringher-Wiar. Her advice that readers encourage the presence of free ranging cats to resolve wildlife conflicts for garden seriously misinformed the readership. Free ranging cats are indiscriminate killers removing beneficial species along with some undesirable species. While readers may want all wildlife in the backyard dead, the fact is very few animals are causing conflicts with gardens so in effect Rachel’s solution is to kill them all and let God sort them out rather than a targeted solution to the problem. In addition Rachel didn’t inform her readers about the disease issues inherent with free ranging cats, particularly toxoplasmosis as cats use gardens for toilets.

It is unfortunate that Rachel didn’t take advantage of the resources provided by the University of Nebraska Lincoln through the Internet center for wildlife damage management website (ICWDM.org). By encouraging her readers to use cats, readers will lose the benefits provided by shrews and songbirds and other beneficial species such as garter snakes and frogs that perform insect control in gardens and also beautify the landscape.

It is my hope that if Ms. Wiar wishes to provide wildlife damage information to her readership that she consult the source mentioned above. If she has any doubts about the environmental impact free ranging cats have on the environment please letter read “Feral Cats and Their Management, EC1781”available at http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/ec1781.pdf. As an author of that university publication, I would be happy to provide her additional details should she desire it.

Sincerely,

Stephen M. Vantassel,

About the Author

Stephen M. Vantassel is a Certified Wildlife Control Operator (CWCP®) 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.

 

About Stephen M. Vantassel

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

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