Abstract
Despite rapid growth, the wildlife damage management industry lacks meaningful training standards, licensing, and certification throughout most of the U.S. In general, state wildlife agencies do not have the necessary personnel, expertise, or funding to develop and manage training programs appropriate for wildlife control operators (WCOs). We developed the National Wildlife Control Training Program (NWCTP) to provide the fundamental skills and knowledge required by WCOs. The NWCTP includes a manual, species supplement, face-to-face training programs, and an on-line training program. Content was certified by the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA) and provides individuals the opportunity for certification through NWCOA. This article explains the development of the NWCTP, its content, and the opportunity it provides for state and federal agencies, private companies, and individuals to increase capacity in resolving human-wildlife conflicts.
Highlights
The wildlife damage management industry has experienced considerable growth in the past decade
In 2011, we conducted a survey of all 50 states to determine requirements for individuals to be permitted, certified, licensed, or perform as wildlife control operators (WCOs)
We used our combined 70-plus years of experience in the field of wildlife damage management to fill this need. We realized such a task was controversial and fraught with many technical and heuristic issues and questions including, “How basic should the information be?” and “How much detail is necessary to satisfy the needs of beginning, as well as experienced WCOs?” We intended the training to have broad appeal and be capable of being configured to the diversity of state wildlife regulations in the U.S
Summary
The wildlife damage management industry has experienced considerable growth in the past decade. In the few states that require wildlife control operators (WCOs) to undergo training, courses usually consist of little more than trapper education (Oleyar 2007). We used our combined 70-plus years of experience in the field of wildlife damage management to fill this need We realized such a task was controversial and fraught with many technical and heuristic issues and questions including, “How basic should the information be?” and “How much detail is necessary to satisfy the needs of beginning, as well as experienced WCOs?” We intended the training to have broad appeal and be capable of being configured to the diversity of state wildlife regulations in the U.S
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