Best practices for nuisance wildlife control operators in New York State

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Ch 5: Step one: Asses the situation

Interview

Interview | Inspection | Signs of wildlife

First, it's best to talk to the right person—whoever knows the most about the problem and the property. Ask both general questions and some very specific ones. A general question might be, "Please describe what you know about the problem," or "Have you noticed any problems since my last visit?" This type of question gives customers a chance to share their information. That could trigger other questions that might guide your inspection.

You'll develop your own interviewing style, but here are some questions to probe for specific information. Ask the customer, when did you first notice this problem? How often does it happen? Did you see any animals or any signs of animals? You might want to prompt them, by asking whether they've heard noises, for example. Then be sure to find out if the noises are heard during the day or at night. Can they locate the noise? You may want to ask several questions about the noises they're hearing, because sometimes people mistake mechanical sounds such as the beeping of a smoke alarm that has a low battery or a swaying utility line for animal noises.

Remember to ask if they've ever had any trouble with wild animals before. If they say yes, have them describe that situation in more detail. When did it happen, did they identify the culprits, and what did they do?

There are also a few important questions to ask about the household. Are there any children or pets present? That might limit which wildlife control techniques you choose. Did anyone have any direct contact with the wild animal? What about pets? This is especially important if dealing with bats, raccoons, and skunks, the species in our area that are most likely to carry rabies. If there's been contact, you'll have to follow health department guidelines. That's the law.

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