SCDNR suggestions for hiring a Wildlife Control Operator
When hiring a WCO, It is imperative that you:
•Ask for references.
•Compare prices of other WCOs in your area to assist with getting a fair price for the service. Some WCO work can be expensive if it involves extra materials and/ or labor to solve your problem.
•Home visits may involve a service charge. A reasonable fee for the WCO's time
and travel is customary. Do not feel obligated to hire a WCO after a home or site inspection. Most WCOs can give an estimate over the phone for routine wildlife situations. However, some situations will require a site inspection fi rst to ascertain the amount of work to be done and the labor and materials required to complete the job. Comparison shop fi rst before agreeing to a service charge.
•Get detailed instructions on the work to be performed.
•Have all services and any guarantees in writing.
•Do not sign any contract until an acceptable fee is agreed upon. A signed contract is usually considered a legal document and you will be responsible for any fees charged by the WCO.
•Understand that it is against state law to permit routine relocation of wildlife. No WCO listed in this booklet is permitted to relocate captured wildlife to another location.
•Do not allow any WCO to place any substance inside or around your home without investigating the effects of such substances. There are no registered poisons for squirrels, and any such use is a violation of State and Federal Law. Have the WCO provide documentation explaining the effi cacy of any substance applied. Large quantities of moth balls (naphthalene) can be dangerous to your health and are rarely effective in solving wildlife problems.
•Do not allow anyone to pressure or frighten you into signing a contract or performing a service immediately. Most wildlife problems can wait. Bats inside the living quarters of a home is the most notable exception. All bats found inside the home should be submitted for rabies testing by DHEC.
•Be suspicious of any claims or statements made by a WCO that sound extraordinary, especially if such claims involve a high fee for any such service. If a WCO cannot guarantee the work without such costly services, try another WCO. There are very few quick fi xes in wildlife control. In South Carolina, control of wildlife and animal damage is the responsibility of the individual property owner. Often, wildlife problems can be eliminated by habitat modification, behavior modification, or a combination of the two. Simple solutions to common wildlife problems include feeding pets indoors, proper disposal of food scraps, and securing trash can lids. These measures serve to reduce food available to unwelcome wildlife and result in less human-animal conflict. Exclusion of offending wildlife by fencing or wire mesh netting is also an effective technique to reduce wildlife damage. In many cases, however, the solution involves the removal of the offending animal.
