Best practices for nuisance wildlife control operators in New York State

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Ch 1: Introduction

Learning objectives for chapter one

1. List four of the issues addressed by the "best practices" approach.
    
2. Name at least two reasons why an animal would be considered "nuisance wildlife."
    
3. Explain what attracts wildlife to a particular site. Can you sum it up in two words?
    
4. How might a client's feelings about wildlife influence the way you approach that job? Give one example of when you might not be able to follow a customer's request.

Review questions

Optional. Answering these questions should help you decide if you learned the material well enough.

1. To qualify as a nuisance, an animal must
   1. take up residence in someone's attic
   2. damage a crop (agricultural, fish stocks, forestry, nursery)
   3. cause an accident
   4. attack a child
   5. it depends on the species and the situation
       
2. Animals often enter human environments to fulfill basic survival needs. What do they seek?
   1. food and shelter
   2. mates
   3. cable TV
   4. protection from diseases
       
3. When providing wildlife control services, you are always required to do exactly what your customer requests. (Circle answer.)
   True False
    
4. What's a best practice?
   1. it's a method that's cheap and fast
   2. a way to solve a nuisance problem that doesn't hurt the wildlife
   3. the simple, single solution for all the problems you'll encounter
   4. an effective way to solve a nuisance problem that minimizes the risks to people and the environment
       
5. NWCOs who use the best practices approach to solving nuisance wildlife problems think about:
   1. safety, wildlife rehabilitation, finding a quick-fix for the problem, and the DEC's goals for its wildlife programs
   2. the humane treatment of wildlife, whether the method is practical, safety issues, and landowner rights
   3. legal and ethical concerns, and how much this method will help increase the deer herd
   4. costs, fur trapping, human safety, and getting rid of as many of the animals as you can to make sure the problem doesn't happen to the neighbors
       
6. You may partner with another professional to finish a job because
   1. you don't have the proper equipment, but your roofer friend does
   2. you're not as comfortable handling that species
   3. it's your busiest season, and you don't have the time to spare for the building repair or clean-up services your customer needs
   4. any of the above

Answers

1. e
    
2. a
    
3. false. In some cases, you must follow the directions of the health department.
    
4. d
    
5. b
    
6. d

Next Section (Chapter two: Balancing the needs of people and wildlife)