The complete eradication of a native species from a property is not recommended and is generally an ineffective method of dealing with conflict. While relocation is sometimes necessary, trapping, relocating, or killing native wildlife should be a last resort and only when all other proactive measures have failed and the animal meets nuisance criteria. Careful consideration should be given to removing or killing native wildlife to resolve the conflict and a plan should be established before attempting to catch it, taking care to attack the individual animal that is causing the damage. Before eliminating annoying native wildlife, familiarize yourself with the regulations on nuisance wildlife.
Any native animal that is killed as part of annoying wildlife elimination initiatives must do so in accordance with the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. The Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to conserving natural resources, and we believe that one of the key components of conservation is working with you, the next generation of land and wildlife stewards. We seek to interact with you and work with you through interpretation, education and employment in and around the local Service offices. We offer a variety of programs that connect families and people of all ages to the outdoors and provide enriching job opportunities that create curriculums for young people.
There are a lot of great educational programs underway at FWS. These are just a few of our nationwide education programs. The management, control and capture of wildlife is a highly regulated activity. Whether the conflict with wildlife is simple or complex, your response must be professional and ethical.
Federal, state, and local laws and regulations must be complied with. You'll need knowledge about biology, habitat, signs, and damage caused by several species and you should be a wildlife advocate. Be sure to review information about the species after the training modules. California is rich in the diversity of people and lands.
The golden state is home to more plants and wildlife than any other state and nearly 40 million people. As more people live and recreate themselves in or near wildlife habitat, they are likely to encounter wildlife. It is possible to share space and live safely with native species. Visit our Human-Wildlife Conflict Program page for useful resources.
Licensing and training regulations improve the working environment for wildlife control operators by applying consistent standards of professional behavior and knowledge, both legal and practical, of wildlife control methods, as well as standards for the humane dispatch and disposal of wildlife. The goal of wildlife damage management (IWDM) is to mitigate or prevent conflicts caused by animals, and not just the control or elimination of wildlife itself. Wildlife Watch is a community model inspired by the Neighborhood Watch program that emphasizes respect for people and wildlife. A wildlife control operator (WCO) is a professional trained to solve problems resulting from damage to wildlife and situations bothering wildlife, generally for profit, and licensed or permitted by the government.
Wildlife damage management is a form of wildlife management and conservation and is highly regulated by federal and state laws. It focuses on wildlife identification, knowledge of wildlife habitat, and skills to modify the habitat or capture, contain and ship an animal. Animals that engage in unwanted behaviors are considered pests, and wildlife control operators can control them outside of typical hunting and trapping seasons, sometimes with special permits, following all local, state and federal regulations. Provisioning Services When people are asked to identify a service provided by nature, most people think of food.
A wildlife control operator (WCO) is a person trained to resolve problems stemming from conflicts with wildlife and annoying situations with wildlife, generally for profit. Most people can master the techniques needed to resolve conflicts with wildlife using wildlife damage management methods. Report wildlife that causes damage to your property or harms your pets to the CDFW's online wildlife incident reporting system or to the Regional Office. In today's urban environment, nuisance wildlife abounds and wildlife damage management professionals are in demand.
A common misconception is that wildlife is “out of balance” with nature because humans have eliminated predators from the system. WCOs play an important role in the conservation and management of wildlife by practicing the management of damage to wildlife. Local wildlife populations can change due to human activity, such as residential development, the addition or removal of bird feeders or gardens, and inadequate garbage storage.
