In it's simplest of forms; Nuisance Wildlife Management is resolving human/wildlife conflicts in the most efficient, humane and professional way possible. This very unique career field involves many facets of wildlife management. One day could find you working to solve a beaver problem that is flooding a neighborhood and the next you are finding a new home for a family of squirrels that are living in an attic.

Human/wildlife conflicts can range from coyotes capturing urban pets, birds nesting and roosting on residential and commercial buildings to rodents and other mammals living in structures. Almost any wildlife species can be a source for a wildlife conflict. Some people might not think that ducks could do any damage, but when they are living in your swimming pool, that can be a big nuisance!

With the encroachment of civilization into suburbia and abundant food sources that come along with this growth, it has created the perfect environment for wildlife. In a city or suburb, there are few if any predators. Cars and the occasional bird of prey are generally the only concern for wildlife in urban environments. The animals lose their fear of humans and come to co-habitate with them quite nicely.

So...with all of this nice wildlife habitat, why wouldn't the wildlife feel as if the welcome matt is out? Wildlife thrives well and can get out of control!

That is where we as Nuisance Wildlife Managers come to the aid of homeowners, private companies and governmental agencies. We assess the conflict; provide recommendations and solutions and finally prevention strategies to prevent another occurrence of the wildlife problem.

A typical day in the life of a Nuisance Wildlife Manager

There really is not what you would call a "typical day" in this career. Every project is different and every situation has its own uniqueness. This makes for a challenging work environment and holds your interest to the project at hand. You have to be part investigator, part animal controller and part client service representative.

A day may involve setting up cages for a raccoon that is in an attic. Then you are off to remove a starling nest out of a dryer vent. Next, will find you searching for a black rat snake that has invaded a basement and you're off again to the next challenge of removing moles that have destroyed a nicely manicured lawn.

Your day may change by the hour with an emergency call that comes in to remove a squirrel from a fireplace. Make no mistake. It's not boring!

During the busier seasons of spring and fall, days may be longer than usual and sometimes up to 10-12 hours depending on work load.

What does it take to be a Nuisance Wildlife Professional?

It takes someone who has a desire to learn. Someone who possesses discipline, integrity, honesty, some knowledge of wildlife and a general knowledge and the skills to do small home repairs.

The ability to climb ladders; work in small spaces such as attics and crawl spaces and sometimes at heights. If you are afraid of heights or working with animals, this would not be a good career move for you.

How do you enter into this field?

It can be difficult to find a position with a governmental agency in this industry. The positions that do come available are usually quickly filled.

Federal agencies such as Wildlife Services section of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have field and support staff positions working with human/wildlife conflicts. Wildlife Services agents help farmers and ranchers control predators and protect their herds.

State agencies may be the Division of Wildlife or the Division of Natural Resources. Each state may have their own unique name they call their agency. Generally a state Division of Wildlife does not get involved directly in wildlife control, but will assist with information to the landowner.

City agencies such as Animal Control will normally control the dog and cat issues in a town or city.

Private companies are the backbone of support for resolving human/wildlife conflicts. Wildlife Management Professionals are the ones who resolve wildlife problems every day and are the core responsible industry. Some companies are one person operators and some have a fleet of service vehicles. A All Animal Control is one such company that offers franchises of their Wildlife Management System in all areas of the United States.

What does the future hold for Wildlife Management Professionals?

The future appears very bright for this industry. With the growing population in the U.S., more encroachment will occur and habitat will be lost. This all translates into more human/wildlife conflicts and a growing problem in America.

Advice for career seekers

If you are considering this type of work, some preparation is in order.

First, it would be good to have an educational background in wildlife biology or biology in general. Wildlife damage management course work would be preferred and as much hands on or internship programs will help make you a more immediately valuable member of any team. Employers are looking for people who can communicate well, are organized and who work well with the general public. Self confidence is a must as this translate into your clients trusting you to be their Wildlife Expert! But most of all, a professional attitude and demeanor is very important as you will be working with live animals and the publics' perception of how you deal with them.

Finally

Working in the Nuisance Wildlife Management field has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done. When you are able to make a difference in your client's lives and improve their quality of life, they are happy beyond compare. Your home is often you most valuable asset and it should be protected and free from wildlife and the diseases they can carry.

I ask that you investigate the opportunities in this field and find what the right fit is for you. This can be a very rewarding career and very enjoyable as well!