Wildlife

Wildlife – Interacting with the clients

  • When you arrive at the customer’s house, before you approach the house, make sure to check your notes for any details that way you will be prepared for interacting with the client. Make sure you look presentable before you approach them. Knock on the door, introduce yourself and explain why you are there. Relaying any of the details or notes that you have. Ask them if they can take you to where the incident has been occurring. Once you have done a detailed inspection of the area and have figured out what animal you are dealing with you must tell the client step by step what your plan of action is and what you will be doing that day to take care of the nuisance animal. After explaining the procedure, proceed with setting your trap and baiting it.  Return to the client and let them know you will take care of the issue, explain to them that trapping the animal may take more than a day but you will be returning each day to check on the trap. Thank them for their time and let them know that if they have any questions, concerns or comments that they can call the office. If you have any questions, concerns or need any information about trapping nuisance animals please contact your seasoned trappers.

Wildlife – Identifying the Nuisance Animal

  • Many calls that we get from clients will include the identification of the nuisance animal. On occasion we get calls where the animal is not identified because the client is unsure of what animal it is. It is important to know the signs to look for when dealing with these cases. If you already know what animal you are trapping you will follow the directions in step 2. If you do not know what animal you are trapping you must follow these steps. You will look at the type of destruction, tracks and scat. The client may also be able to tell you the sounds the unknown animal has made. Once you have identified these key indicators you should be able to tell what the animal is and move on to the next step of trapping the animal.

Wildlife – Determining proper materials for trapping

It is important to pick the proper bait and trap once you have identified the animal. Traps vary in sizes and certain animals will only eat certain things. If the trap is too large the animal may escape and if the trap is too small the animal may not fit.

Traps:

-Small Traps are used for: rats and anything smaller than a squirrel.

-Medium Traps are used for: squirrels only.

-Large Traps are use for: skunks, opossums, raccoons and groundhogs.

Bait:

-Peanut Butter: groundhogs, rats and squirrels.

-Cat Food: raccoons, skunks, opossums and rats.

If you choose the incorrect bait you may not lure the animal into the trap.

Wildlife – Setting the trap

After you have determined what animal you are trapping, the bait and trap you are using, it is time to trap the animal. The trap needs to be set up near the harborage, but not too close because you may scare it away. ex. if you find a hole by a patio going underneath the concrete, you have identified the animal as a skunk, you will place the trap within a 5 foot radius of that hole. Even though the traps may vary in size, they are all set the same way. Traps all have four components. The cage, the trap door, pressure plate and trigger bar. When setting a trap, you will pull up the trap door, pull the trigger bar forward until it slides up beneath the door, this will raise the pressure plate. Place the trap on the ground and place the bait behind the pressure plate away from the walls of the cage. If the bait is too close to the walls, many animals will try to pull the bait through the walls instead of going into the trap. You can also use sticks and leaves to camouflage the trap, be cautious you do not want to hinder the trigger.

Wildlife – Checking and removing trapped animals

  • Instructed by the ODA you MUST check a trap every 24 hours. If you are unable to check a trap every 24 hours, you must leave the trap door open so the animal becomes comfortable going in and out of the trap. When you are able to continue checking the trap every 24 hours, remove the tie from trap and replace the old bait with new bait.  When you check the trap and there is an animal in it, you will need to remove the trap. Trapped animals can be dangerous and carry many diseases so please take precautions and wear the appropriate proper protective equipment. Once you have dawned your proper protective equipment, place a blanket over the trap, this will help calm the animal some and place the covered trap in the back of your vehicle to be transported to critter control. Critter Control’s address in Franklin County is: 3580 Fisher Road, Columbus, 43228. If there is more than one nuisance animal replace the trap.

Wildlife – Helpful information about Nuisance Animals

  • Squirrels and raccoons: these animals will make scratching noises, potentially in a ceiling at night.  Raccoons are nocturnal so they typically wont be in their harborage at night. Squirrels are day dwellers so they will typically be in their harborage at night. This is why it is important to ask questions when trying to identify the nuisance animals. If you find an entry point that is chewed, most likely it will be a squirrel. Squirrels like to chew through things to find shelter. Raccoons on the other hand, like to pry. They will look for weaknesses in the structure to try and bust through.
  • Skunks, rats and opossums: These two animals are both nocturnal and scavengers. They can be sited during the day but it is rare. They are likely to be found near trashcans and dumpsters. Opossums will nest in trees and brush. Skunks will typically burrow under patios, crawlspaces etc. Rats will typically harbor in your basement and dark moist areas. Skunks also can be found near heavy infestations of yellow jackets. Groundhogs: these animals will make multiple holes in their harbor areas causing destruction. They are herbivore and can be found outside during the day.