Understanding the Importance of Ethical and Sustainable Wildlife Control

Wildlife infestations have become an increasing concern among residents,as creatures of all sorts are seeking for new sources of food and safer habitats. Nonetheless, there is a need to address wildlife nuisance problems through ethical and sustainable wildlife control.

Understanding the Root Cause of Wildlife Infestations and Invasions

While we find it necessary to have animals like raccoons, skunks, rodents or opossums removed from our backyards and/or bats in our attics, we should do so with compassion and understanding. These wild animals are only following their basic instincts for survival. After all, most of these creatures venture far from their natural environments primarily because they have lost their habitats.

At first, habitat loss was due to mankind’s advancement to modernization particularly in connection with the construction of roads, bridges and dams. Subsequently in the following years, the gradual effects of global warming like drought and extreme heat caused breakdowns in the ecosystems supporting these forest animals. In recent years the frequency and severity of wildfires, have resulted in the complete destruction of their natural homes.

Although state wildlife laws in the U.S. vary, they are one in instituting rules and policies aimed at protecting wild animals; not only against illegal hunting but also in relation to wildlife removal actions. While many wildlife removal experts have made it a big business to offer their services in helping homeowners address wildlife invasion problems, most state laws have made it mandatory to use only humane methods in addressing such problems.

Underscoring the Importance of Wildlife Removal and Control Certifications

To ensure that related mandates are followed, it is common for state business licensing departments to require license applicants to obtain certifications. Certifications provide proof of competencies in handling not only wildlife nuisance issues but in carrying out overall wildlife control operations as well.

As a certified Wildlife Control Operator (WCO) it means the business is being run by a person who has passed training and evaluation of his or her competencies in solving nuisance wildlife problems; and in ethically managing wildlife to prevent nuisance animals from causing further economic, biological and social damages. The certification also prevents wildlife control businesses to profit from wildlife nuisance occurrences, using unethical business practices.

In most cases, licensed WCOs have more than one certification since wildlife removal and control is not a one-solution-fits-all-problems job. As an attestation to a WCO’s competencies, businesses make it a point to prominently display their certifications in their website, using logos or symbols representing the issuing organization.

Some examples of WCO certifications include but are not limited to: Professional Wildlife Technicians, Humane Certified Professionals, Bat Conservation Affiliation, Certified Wildlife Pro and Climbing Pro Safety.

Homeowners on the other hand, are advised to hire only duly licensed Wildlife Control Operators (WCOs) to ensure that the animal invasion or infestation affecting their homes are properly addressed. As wildlife control operators they have the skills and knowhow in repairing damages as well as sealing all entry points to prevent the recurrence of another wildlife home invasion.