NEW CT ANTI-TRAPPING AMENDMENT

Unfortunately, it appears that we are a victim of our own success. Your phone calls and e-mails were so successful in blocking Senator Meyer from bringing out any amendments in the Senate that would impact the use of leghold traps that they have decided to try it in the House first. The leghold trap amendment has now been proposed on H.B. No. 6552 AN ACT BANNING THE POSSESSION OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS ANIMALS AND THE IMPORTATION, POSSESSION AND LIBERATION OF WILD ANIMALS. It had been speculated that they would try to attach it to this bill. It is the same as Sen. Meyer was going to use in the Senate comprising a ban and adopting bureaucratic Massachusetts type legislation. See the MA results at http://www.macrwm.org/inthepress.htm It is unclear when and if action will take place, so immediate action is necessary. Once again we’d ask you to take time out of your day to make calls today and tomorrow. Use the same message as used for the Senate: “I’m calling to oppose any ban on leghold and body gripping traps, could you be transfer to me to Representative ----------.” Call between 10:00am and 3:00pm. Contact the following legislators at the specific number listed. In addition AND contact your own Representative.

 

Speaker of the House Christopher Donovan

860 240 8500

 

House Majority Leader Denise Merrill

860 240 8500

 

Representative Richard Roy

860 240 8500

 

Representative Brian Hurlburt

860 240 8500

 

House Minority Leader Larry Cafero

860 240 8700  

 

You can find your CT legislator at http://www.cga.ct.gov/maps/townlist.asp  or in the Blue pages under “Connecticut, State of” then “Legislators”. Also, inform your friends who have an interest. Ask them to communicate.

While we urge you to use your own words, use the KISS principle, and please…do not be insulting or negative towards Any Senator, Representative, or anyone else in the Capitol.  Identify yourself and Town, State your position and why you Support or Oppose the bill. Be Brief, if they have questions they will ask.

Review all current bills and other info at the CCS website www.ctsportsmen.com

 

CT Trap Ban Amendments

Senator Meyer and Representative Roy has attached the original context of SB #994 and their proposed amendment to SB #650: AN ACT CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A TRUST FOR THE CARE OF AN ANIMAL.

http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=650&which_year=2009
We must again, contact our Legislators and oppose SB #650 with the
specific mention that the final Fiscal Note :
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/fna/2009SB-00650-R00LCO06716-FNA.htm
which has a price tag of close to $500,000 per year for the next two (2) years.

The cost of S.B. 994, Connecticut's proposed ban on leghold and Conibear traps

April 16, 11:16 PM
S.B. 994, An Act Concerning Leghold Traps, proposes to ban the use of leghold and Conibear traps in Connecticut. The original note on the fiscal impact of the law indicated that there would be minimal effect. The Office of Fiscal Analysis (OFA), however, has now corrected that initial assessment, based in part on an analysis of the experience of Massachusetts in struggling with its 1996 trapping ban.

The predicted cost to the state in lost revenues is estimated at $15,464 per year due to the loss of trapping licenses through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The estimated cost to the state in additional expenses associated with nuisance-animal management is $482,000 in fiscal years 2010 and 2011.

The estimated additional cost to Connecticut municipalities for nuisance-animal control is $92,000, as the services of volunteer trappers would no longer be available to Connecticut towns for the removal of problem beavers, and the towns would thus need to employ professional trapping companies.

The OFA cannot estimate other likely costs of the proposed trap ban: flooded basements, damaged roads, and contaminated drinking water due to flooding from beaver dams; increased damage to corn crops by raccoons; additional poultry losses to foxes and fishers; the loss of family pets to coyote predation. The list goes on and on.

Bad wildlife management is expensive. We might hope that the Humane Society of the United States, the key lobbyist for S.B. 994, will be willing to cover the costs if the law passes. But we all know that won’t happen. Connecticut taxpayers will get stuck with the bill.

http://www.examiner.com/x-4401-Connecticut-Nature-Examiner~y2009m4d16-The-cost-of-SB-994-Connecticuts-proposed-ban-on-leghold-and-Conibear-traps

Conibear traps and S.B. 994, the proposed Connecticut trap ban

News article by Jeff Serena from the Examiner.Com

S.B. 994, An Act Concerning Leghold Traps, is making its way toward consideration in the General Assembly. It originated in the Environment Committee with the effective lobbying of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in direct response to the highly publicized, ultimately fatal trapping of a great horned owl in January 2009. The trap in that incident was a leghold trap. Although the trap was illegal (unpadded, not offset, not anchored, anonymously set), and in such poor and rusted condition that it could not be made to work when tested later, it nonetheless provided sufficient ammunition for anti-trapping activists to set in motion a bill to ban leghold traps.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the General Assembly. By legislative sleight-of-hand, the Act Concerning Leghold Traps also includes language to ban Conibear traps. Conibears aren’t leghold traps. What are they doing in S.B. 994?
The Conibear trap is a killing trap. It’s known generically as a “body-gripping trap” among trappers and wildlife biologists, as a “body-crushing trap” among animal-rights activists, and as a “smooth wire trap” in the Connecticut trapping regulations. The Conibear trap is named for its inventor, Frank Conibear. A well-known professional trapper and wilderness guide in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Conibear retired from the field in 1944 and began working on a design for a new trap that would kill a trapped animal quickly, rather than holding it alive until the trapper arrived to dispatch it.
By the mid 1950s, Conibear had his new trap. It’s a deceptively simple device that works much like a mousetrap. Two spring-loaded metal frames form an opening into which an animal is guided or lured. As the animal puts its head into the trap, it trips a trigger that snaps the frames together on the animal’s neck or upper body, killing it. Death generally occurs instantly due to a broken neck or dislocated spine, or very rapidly due to physical trauma and drowning. The Canadian Association for the Protection of Fur Bearing Animals provided financing for Conibear’s new device, which quickly gained popularity as an efficient and humane trap. In 1961, the American Humane Association awarded Frank Conibear its Certificate of Merit for his invention.
In Connecticut, Conibear traps can only be legally set in the water. They are, therefore, used exclusively for trapping aquatic furbearers—large traps for beavers and river otters, and smaller traps for muskrats and minks. Although a trap set specifically for a beaver may occasionally catch a legal otter or muskrat, Conibears set in the water are extremely selective in excluding non-target animals, such as deer, birds, bobcats, and dogs.
Because they’re fast-killing and highly selective, Conibears pose a special challenge to anti-trapping activists. It’s easier to get a trap banned if you can plausibly argue that it causes a slow, agonizing death, or that it threatens pets or children or endangered species. As used by trappers in Connecticut, the Conibear trap plainly doesn’t do any of those things. And that’s why it’s in S.B. 994. There’s currently no practical way to get the Conibear trap banned on the merits, no matter how often you misinform people about it. But with public hackles up about the unfortunate owl, and a statewide ban on legholds a real possibility, you can slip the Conibear trap into the bill and reasonably hope that no one will notice. The trick may work, but it’s not a way to responsible or effective wildlife management.

Whidbey homeowners assess Mudslide Damages caused by Beaver Dam Failure

WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. – South Whidbey Island residents are cleaning up and assessing damages today after mudslides swamped their waterfront homes.

 

See video clip of the mudslide:

 

http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=348890

Connecticut Trapping Important to Coyote Removal

Trapping appears to be more important in the harvest of coyotes following the regulation change that allowed limited land trapping.  In the 5 seasons preceding this regulation change an average of 37 percent of the coyote harvested were trapped and 54 percent shot.  In the three seasons since the regulation change an average of 59 percent of the coyote harvest was from trapping and 32 percent was from hunting.

 

 

Fonfara Withdraws His Sponsorship of S.B. 994

Fonfara took his name off the sponsors list of SB 994. His office said he changed his mind!!!!

Way to go 1st district trappers!! Keep up the good work!

A short msg. of thanks to Mr. Fonfara is in order too!

Beta testing S.B. 994, Connecticut's proposed fur trapping ban

S.B. 994, Connecticut's proposed fur trapping ban
<

March 23, 1:47 PM
S.B. 994, "An Act Concerning Leghold Traps,"
<> has been
approved by a vote of 22-8 in the Connecticut General Assembly's Environment Committee, and will now be considered by the legislature. If enacted, the law will largely ban the use of leghold and Conibear traps in the state.Proponents of the measure argue that passage of S.B. 994 will finally end an unacceptably cruel practice. Opponents argue that trapping is not inhumane,and that it is an important tool for wildlife management in Connecticut.In 1996, voters in Massachusetts approved an anti-trapping ballot referendum expertly pushed by animal-rights organizations. Formally titled the Wildlife Protection Act, the law is more popularly known as Question One. Like S.B.994, Question One bans the use of leghold and Conibear traps. The Massachusetts experience, particularly with regard to management of the state's beaver population, is a useful case study for understanding the practical implications of S.B. 994.Prior to Question One, Massachusetts had a healthy beaver population estimated at approximately 23,000 animals. Homeowners and others dealing with occasional beaver problems, such as the destruction of trees and the flooding of yards and basements, could call MassWildlife <http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/> , the Massachusetts agency that is roughly the equivalent of the Wildlife Division of Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). MassWildlife would typically refer the caller to the Massachusetts Trappers Association. The MTA would recommend a trapper, who would come out during the trapping season, generally at no cost to the landowner, and kill the beaver.As in Connecticut, most Massachusetts beaver trapping was done with Conibear traps set in the water. Conibears are not leghold traps. They are lethal traps that work on much the same principle as the familiar mousetrap. A beaver is guided or baited into putting its head into the trap, triggering stiff wire arms that snap down on the animal's neck, dislocating the
beaver's spine and killing it.Question One banned Conibears but not "humane" box traps and suitcase traps.In Massachusetts, these traps are used to capture beavers alive and unharmed so that they can be killed later. Relocating beavers is illegal in Massachusetts. Box traps and suitcase traps make trapping, which is demanding work in the best of circumstances, even more difficult. They're
bulky, heavy, and time consuming to carry and set. They're also expensive,and with the market for furs so depressed, it's hard for a trapper to
justify replacing his Conibears with cage traps that may well cost more
money than a successful trapper will realize from the furs he takes in a
whole season's trapping.
The ban on Conibear traps very nearly ended fur trapping for beavers in
Massachusetts. In the last trapping season before the ban took effect,
trappers harvested 1,136 beavers in the state. By the 1997-98 season, the
number of beavers killed by trappers had dropped to ninety-eight.
Animal-rights organizations hailed the passage of Question One as a signal
victory for their cause. Then things began to get complicated.
Suddenly relieved of the pressure of its main predator, the beaver
population in Massachusetts grew explosively. By 2000, the population was
estimated to have tripled to about 70,000 animals. As the beaver population
increased, reports of damaged private property, blocked culverts, and
flooded roads due to beaver activity skyrocketed. Public water supplies in
towns like Sterling
<http://www.wwdmag.com/River-Contaminates-Town's-Water-Supply-When-State-Lea
ves-It-to-Beavers-article3199> and Chelmsford
<http://www.fishwildlife.org/furbearer_cases.html> were contaminated by
flooding caused or exacerbated by beavers.
Massachusetts had long had some problem beavers, but beavers were now a
widespread problem. As environmentalist firebrand Ted Williams wrote
<http://list.audubon.org/wa.exe?A2=ind0501&L=audubon-pa&P=77> in Audubon
magazine, "We've converted a resource to a pest."
The 1996 passage of Question One, which banned the use of leghold and
Conibear traps in Massachusetts, led to a dramatic increase in the state's
beaver population. By 2000, beavers had become serious pests, and their
activities were flooding highways, contaminating drinking water, and causing
extensive damage to private property.
In 2000, the Massachusetts legislature responded by modifying Question One
to allow local boards of health to issue emergency permits for the use of
Conibear traps, not just during trapping season but at any time of year, to
destroy beavers that pose a threat to human health and safety. This action
completed a fundamental shift in beaver management that had begun with
Question One four years earlier. Instead of actively managing the beaver
population strategically and across the state, Massachusetts now manages
beavers reactively through local damage control in an endless series of
small crises. With much of the state's beaver control now in the hands of
town health boards with no reporting requirements back to the state,
MassWildlife, the agency ostensibly responsible for wildlife management in
Massachusetts, can no longer even accurately estimate the size of the
state's beaver population.
Massachusetts homeowners once had their beaver problems resolved largely by
recreational fur trappers-at no cost. Now many homeowners pay nuisance
animal control operators hundreds of dollars, and sometimes more, for
trapping, fencing, tree wrapping, and the installation of flow-control
devices in beaver ponds. Massachusetts taxpayers have also taken a financial
hit, as highway departments and towns pay for beaver-control services.
Additional concerns about the growing beaver population have arisen,
including an increase in mosquito breeding habitat and a possible link to
mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus.
And what about the beavers? Because of the large number of problem beavers
now being trapped for damage control, it's estimated that the number of
beavers being killed annually by trapping in Massachusetts (based on 2006
data, which are the most recent available) is higher than the number killed
before Question One.
When good technology managers consider purchasing a new hardware or software
product for their company, they make certain that the product has been
subjected to adequate beta testing to ensure that it will work in their
operating environment. As the General Assembly considers S.B. 994
<http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/TOB/S/2009SB-00994-R00-SB.htm> , it needs to
look at Question One. Massachusetts has, in effect, done the beta testing
for Connecticut's proposed trap ban. The results couldn't be clearer. It
doesn't work.
When I began looking into the issues surrounding S.B. 994, I was about as
neutral as a person can be on an extraordinarily polarizing subject. Since
then, I've spent many hours reading about trapping: scientific papers, news
stories, blogs, and a lot of anti-trapping literature. I've spoken and
corresponded with trappers, wildlife biologists, and animal-rights
advocates. I've been privileged to meet thoughtful, gracious, helpful folks
on all sides of the debate. And I'm not neutral anymore. S.B. 994 is
flat-out bad legislation.
The people who are providing the main impetus for S.B. 994 surely have good
intentions. The Humane Society of the United States <http://www.hsus.org/>
(HSUS) is the key lobbyist for the trap ban. HSUS is a smart organization
that does much good work on behalf of animals. No one should confuse them
with groups on the lunatic fringe <http://www.petakillsanimals.com/> of the
animal-rights movement. Even folks who vehemently disagree with HSUS on
policy matters should still recognize that the organization's local staff
and volunteers are sensible people who genuinely care about Connecticut and
its wildlife.
Senator Ed Meyer <http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/Meyer.html> led the charge
for S.B. 994 in the Environment Committee, and seems likely to perform the
same role in the General Assembly. Senator Meyer represents the 12th Senate
District <http://www.cga.ct.gov/red/2001senate.htm> , where I happen to
live. He's a good man-an effective legislator who works hard on behalf of
his constituents and the people of Connecticut. I've voted for him twice,
and I hope to do so again. But even good legislators and smart organizations
sometimes make mistakes. S.B. 994 is a mistake. It will be best to tell them
so.
http://www.examiner.com:80/x-4401-Connecticut-Nature-Examiner~y2009m3d23-Bet
a-testing-SB-994-Connecticuts-proposed-fur-trapping-ban-Part-1
Support Your fellow sportsmen:
"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang
separately".
Benjamin Franklin
<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/benjaminfr151597.html>
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/benjaminfr151597.html

Collarum Testimonial

Just sending a quick note to say this trap works great. I have captured some hard to catch dogs with it that I do not think I would have captured otherwise. Your support has also been excellent. I e-mailed you several months ago in reference to a hard to catch dog. You sent another bite piece and additional instruction, which helped. While the Collarum did not catch that dog (she was eventually captured when she had puppies), it has caught other dogs that would have taken considerable time to capture. So, thank you for an outstanding product. I just wish we would have had it when trying to get those dogs which took us years to apprehend!
 
Deputy S.M. Jessee
Caroline County Sheriff's Office
Division of Animal Control
14080 Devils Three Jump Rd.
Milford, VA 22514
Office: (804) 633-9041 Fax: (804) 633-2084

--

STATE LEGISLATORS DON’T GIVE A DAM ABOUT THE CT RIVER VALLEY

Ban on Trapping Threatens Integrity of Connecticut River Flood Protection Dikes
 
West Hartford, CT. (March 26, 2009) – State Legislators may soon be voting on a controversial measure to ban certain kinds of traps in Connecticut, including traps currently used by wildlife professionals to control burrowing animals in the Connecticut River levee system. The Connecticut Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Association, Inc. (CTNWCO Assoc., Inc.) expressed alarm at this proposal, citing millions of dollars in repairs to the levee system attributed to wildlife problems over the past several years. The same Legislators considering this ban have already allocated millions of taxpayer dollars to protect the safety and property of residents in the areas of these  levees. "We are deeply concerned about the state's ability to continue to keep the population levels of these animals in check without these vital tools," said Tom Logan, Vice President and spokesman for the CTNWCO Association. The General Assembly's Environment Committee recently approved a bill co-sponsored by Hartford state Senator John Fonfara and Plainville Representative Elizabeth "Betty" Boukus to ban foothold and Conibear traps in the state.
 
According to Nick Casparino, a Civil Engineer for the town of East Hartford, the town last year alone paid a private contractor $4 million to repair nearly four miles of town-owned dikes that protect it from the Connecticut River. The town has allocated $25 million to rehabilitating the dike system. Casparino said that more than $58,000 has been paid to the contractor so far for controlling and repairing wildlife damage to the dike system, but the project is still ongoing. Mr. Casparino said that the US Army Corps of Engineers is requiring an ongoing program to control wildlife and remediate the damage caused by wildlife, which is very extensive since they must bring in heavy equipment every time an animal burrows into the earthen dike.
 
According to a 2005 report on the state's dams, "Dam Safety in Connecticut", compiled by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's Bureau of Water Management, Connecticut had 22 deficient dams in 2004. The US Army Corps of Engineers' 2007 report on National Inventory of Dams indicated that there are 468 earthen dams in Connecticut, representing 64% of the 723 dams in the state. This report also indicated that 62% of the dams are privately owned, and 18% are owned by local governments. Wesley Marsh of the bureau of Water Management stated, "It will be hard to tell a private levee owner that they need to remedy a wildlife issue, then have the wildlife department tell them that they cannot trap the animal. Especially if they had a trapper previously managing the beaver population for no charge."
 
According to USA Today's December 22, 2008 article, "Most Levee Repairs Lagging", the US Army Corps of Engineers indicated that the worst offenders are Washington and California, where levees with "unacceptable maintenance deficiencies" protect densely populated cities like Seattle and Sacramento. While Connecticut has recently provided $5 million to improve Hartford's levees, no one knows how this trapping ban will affect the cost of repairing the levees in the future. One has to wonder if it will even be feasible to perform the repairs without being able to use the proper tools, such as traps, to control the burrowing animals causing the damage. If the repairs are delayed, the US Army Corps of Engineers could bar access to recovery funds, should there be a catastrophe. Tom Logan, Vice President of the Connecticut Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Association, Inc., states, "The state lawmakers need to look at the overall picture of this ban on trapping, and look at where these tools can be used effectively to manage wildlife to protect human interests. How will a muskrat or beaver that is burrowing into a levee be caught without these tools being available anymore? It's ironic that the two states that are the worst offenders are states that ban these traps."
 
According to Dan Marks, a civil engineer and a consultant of the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, burrowing animals like muskrats and beavers are the two most common wildlife species to cause structural damage. Muskrats burrow into the levees and weaken their integrity. Beavers obstruct spillways, burrow into the levee, and move mud and material to create their own dams. Mr. Marks says that water level devices are not a good option since they are expensive to install and maintain. He stated that last year in June a muskrat had undermined a repaired water-saturated levee that was holding back the relentless Mississippi River in eastern Missouri. The town residents had worked for several days to maintain the levee from the rising waters. This only affected about 100 homes, but the levee was protecting an area of about 3,000 acres, and the damage happened when everyone was sleeping.
 
Muskrats and beaver aren't the only wildlife causing damage to dikes.
 
"How can we control moles that are eroding the surface of these levees?" asked Richard Daniotti, owner of Wildlife Control Services of West Hartford. "These lawmakers are supposed to look out for the environment and the people. Yet if they ban the use of traps, they will only cause more poisons to be absorbed into the environment, including our waterways." Daniotti also pointed to the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) technical manual for wildlife control professionals to use in managing these animals, "FEMA highly recommends these same traps that the state lawmakers are trying to ban."
 
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's Deputy Commissioner, Susan Frechette, testified at the environmental lawmakers hearing on March 9th in opposition to the trap ban, citing a detrimental impact on wildlife management. She testified that if the traps are banned under the proposed legislation, the most effective, and for some species, the only effective tool, will no longer be available to wildlife control professionals. Senator Edward Meyer of Guilford responded to Deputy Commissioner during the hearing by saying, "I am appalled that the department is condoning the use of these traps"
 
The Connecticut Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Association is a non-profit organization to promote general standards and ethics as well as foster education, research, and knowledge within the nuisance wildlife control industry.
 
###
 
For more information on this topic or to schedule an interview with Tom Logan, please call 203-375-1211 or email Wildthingsllc@att.net
or
Richard Daniotti at 860-236-2683
 
Or visit our website www.ctnwcoa.com

--
Alan A. Huot, President
Wildlife Control Supplies

P.O. Box 538
East Granby, CT 06026
860-844-0101   860-413-9831 (FAX)

www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com
"Products for Professionals"

Nomol Trap Setting

See a brief video clip of "How to Set the NoMol Trap" from the complete production
MOLES: Removal made Simple. Just posted on YouTube:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MZE6qoEA73A

Rockaby Mr. Opossum

Check out Mr. Lapierre's most current antics !!!

The Collarum

Short video clip of the Collarum "In Action" at the National Wildlife Research Center in Denver

Camporee 2008

Wow, Fantastic, Tremendous........a helluva lot of fun, those are just some of the words I'll use to describe the recent 1st Annual Camporee coordinted by none other than Kirk Lapierre. As with anything Kirk puts his mind to he pours his heart and soul into his endeavors and it sure came through at this event. The weather helped of course as it was an absolutely perfect early October day, but the food was out of this world, basically eat 'til you drop, there were scheduled demonstrations going on throughout the day, and of course the swap meet or tag sale tables. You could tell that people really enjoyed the day.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to attend the entire event as I had other commitments for the early part of the weekend, but Sunday was everything I described above. I picked up Jim Dreisacker (BatCone) on the way down and the State campground was very easy to find, it is almost parallel to the Hudson River. The grounds are wonderfully kept, it had a nice outdoor pavilion and I'm told the lodge where folks could sleep was very nice as well.

I for one am hoping Kirk has enough energy to pull the Camporee together for next year, this is certainly an event well worth supporting and for those that decided not to attend they really missed a worthwhile event. Kirk, please sign me up for next year !!

Critter Control Opens CT office

WCS had the pleasure of a visit by one of Critter Control's newest managers, Ray "Doug" Humphrey. Ray is the new manager of the Central Connecticut area office.
He comes to Critter Control with 28 years experience in a suburban police dept., and Doug has dealt with and resolved many conflicts between wildlife and people. WCS recently received an announcement from Critter Control's CEO, Kevin Clark, notifying the wildlife industry of their new office and introducing Doug. Doug brings with him a variety of skills, including his extensive investigative knowledge which will serve him well as a Critter Control representative.

WCS welcomes Doug Humphrey to the wildlife control industry !

NPMA 1st Nuisance Bird & Wildlife Conference - Nov. '08

The National Pest Management Association's First Ever Nuisance Bird and Wildlife Management Conference & Marketplace!


Educational Program & Registration is Live!

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is excited to offer its first ever Nuisance Bird and Wildlife Management Conference and Marketplace, November 19-21, 2008 at the Westin St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. The schedule of events and educational program including speakers is now online.



Click here to register.

Click here to view the conference program.



What It's All About?

This first rate educational program is divided into two tracks – an introductory track aimed at newcomers to nuisance bird and wildlife management and an advanced track geared toward veterans of this sector. From regulatory requirements, business models and public perception to mole control, bat management and bird control – both tracks provide valuable business and technical information for your level of service.



Who Should Attend?

Anyone who currently provides pest and nuisance wildlife management services, is just entering the market, or considering expanding their service offerings to this sector – this conference is for you!



Click here to register.



Take Advantage of the Marketplace!

A centerpiece of the conference is the Marketplace, which will connect pest and wildlife management professionals from around the country with suppliers of products and services related to this sector. During the conference, attendees will explore new business opportunities in the nuisance wildlife arena for the pest management professional.



Interested in Exhibiting at the Marketplace?

Space is filling up fast! Click here for more information or contact Alexis Wirtz at awirtz@pestworld.org or call 703-352-6762.

Thank You to Our Co-Sponsors!

Critter Control

National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA)
Wildlife Control Supplies

WCS joins YouTube

WCS has uploaded the first of many instructional videos to come to YouTube. YouTube with its' huge presence in cyberspace is an excellent medium for communicating short instructions on such things as using equipment, methods, techniques, new products, etc.

There are certain products which people find particularly confusing and those will be our initial focus. The first instructional video covers the proper and safe setting of the Belisle Footsnare. We have found the manufacturer supplied printed directions less than adequate for explaining the setting of this device.......so this is our "trial balloon" if you will. If there is a particular device or technique you'd like to see us include, please feel free to send us a note, we'll place it on our list.

So let me invite you to our Channel on YouTube, feel free to subscribe and be notified when new videos are uploaded. Click below:

www.youtube.com/shopwcs

Weep Holes for Rodent Prevention

As we enter the fall season many pests will gain access to commercial and residential accounts via weep holes in the buildings of these accounts. Weep holes are either the gaps left between some bricks in external walls or the small openings in window framing. Weep holes serve two important purposes: 1) Ventilation of the internal wall cavity - without ventilation, mildew, dry rot and damp reduce the life of the internal wall studs and other building materials within the cavity, and 2) Drainage - water that enters the cavity due to capillary action, condensation, damage, or accidental flooding needs to escape somewhere.

Though necessary, unfortunately, weep holes also present a problem in that they also provide access to the wall cavity for rodents and insects, especially as temperatures cool down and pests seek harborage for warmth. Swarming bees and European wasps also love cavities. Field mice make a track through the weep holes looking for nest sites. Snakes, cockroaches and spiders find refuge in the cavity.

In desperation, many homeowners and commercial building occupants will resort to blocking weep holes with any number of materials such as silicon sealants, rolled up paper, plastic, scourer pads or steel wool to keep the pests out. These so-called solutions obstruct airflow to the cavity and set up moisture problems down the road. This can be very costly to fix later. The better way is to use small mesh screening inserts or weep hole inserts that can be purchased from your distributors or construction product distributors. These will keep the pests from entering in the first place. Applying a repellent residual first can also be useful for insect pests.

When thinking about pests that enter the weep holes, keep this rule of thumb in mind.1/2, ¼ and 1/16. Rats require a space only ½ of an inch wide to enter a building. Mice require a space of only ¼ of an inch wide to enter a building. And, most insect pests require only 1/16 of an inch wide space to enter a building. Weep holes come in various sizes, but can allow for most any of these pests. Excluding them with inserts or screening that allows the weep hole to still function as it should, while preventing the pests from entering is what is needed to properly keep pests out.

PestWorld 2007

PestWorld 2007 is the last major show of 2007 that WCS attends. This year the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has chosen the Gaylord Palms hotel in Orlando, FL for the site of PestWorld, and is being held from Oct. 16 through the 20th.

This is a major event in the wildlife/pest control industries and I highly recommend attending to anyone just "thinking about it" ! Out side of the tradeshow area which contains all of the major manufacturers and distributors in the industry there is a wealth of information and educational opportunities going on in the sessions being held throughtout the show. The NPMA does an excellent job of attracting and presenting an information filled program that everyone will find something of interest. This is a top-notch quality event.

For those of you attending the show, please be sure and stop by booth #818 and visit with us.

See you there.....

Alan

Pneu-Dart Distribution

Wildlife Control Supplies is proud to announce the addition of Pneu-Dart’s chemical capture remote injection delivery systems to their customer product offering. Recognizing the need for its’ professional customer base, WCS selected Pneu-Dart for its’ quality, excellent product support, and wide range of products. Pneu-Dart, of Williamsport, PA, has been manufacturing quality equipment for remote drug delivery since 1967. Pneu-Dart offers a wide range of air-activated, cartridge-fired and gas-powered projectors. From the popular Blo-Jector blowgun style projector to the new high-tech X-Caliber gauged CO2 rifle, Pneu-Dart has the drug delivery solution to suit every professionals needs.

Pneu-Dart also manufactures a vast line of dart types. A variety of injection darts are available, as well as darts for collecting DNA and biopsies. There are also transmitter darts, marking darts and the ever-popular Bear-Scare dart, designed to blow apart on impact and frighten off aggressive animals without harming them.

Wildlife Control Supplies is pleased to offer our customers this exciting line of products. Contact us toll-free 1-877-684-7262 or on the web at http://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/.

NY State Trappers Convention

WCS will be attending the NY State Trappers Convention being held in Herkimer, NY over the Labor Day weekend. This is perhaps the eighth or ninth year in a row that we've attended this show. It has gotten to be a mixture of business and pleasure for us as it is as much a social event as anything else. This show draws an excllent crowd and there always is a large number of familar faces. If you haven't ventured out to a show like this in the past I would highly recommend it. The area is great for sightseeing also !

Anyway, I wanted to post something regarding this show since we are setting up a booth in the main building, we will be pulling our trailer and bringing products for display. However, this year we will be traveling "light" as we will be picking up a large quantity of goods during and after the show. By necessity, we cannot come fully loaded with products. My point in mentioning this is that if there is something you specifically need or want from us, don't leave it to chance that we will be bringing it. Call ahead, we will ensure it makes it onto the trailer. I'm just trying to avoid any disappointment. Even in past years, try as we do to bring a wide selection there is always someone who comes by and says "oh, I thought you'd be bringing that" ! Don't take the chance if you really need it......CALL !

Tube Trap Modifications

Tube Trap Customer Wrote:

Hi Alan I dont think anything less than my sample would be strong enough to absorb the huge impact. If you could get tubing just as hard as the sample that I am mailing it could work. Feel free to use what I tell you any way you want. If you make a million send me a box of double spring Koro traps. Please find attached the picture you requested. Also the rubber is held in place with two nuts and bolts. The rubber should be about a 1/4 inch up the slot so when it fires it wont bottom out and bend the rod. I don't know where you could get this rubber. I have a roll of it that was used to make pads for railroad track plates. Yes I am retired but if you want I could send it to you. Its quite heavy.

I will put the sample in tomorrows mail.
Bill Lane

Suggested TUBE Trap improvement from a customer

I thought folks might like to see this, a suggestion in from a customer on the TUBE TRAP. Just a note here……you should NOT DRY FIRE TUBE TRAPS as you would perhaps a bodygrip or foothold trap.
********************************************************************************

Hi Alan: Recently you were good enough to replace some Tube Traps that were damaged due to Dry Firing.
Well thank you very much !
I felt a little guilty taking them but have now figured a way to try and pay you back.
Please find attached some pictures of what I think is the answer to the problem. The rubber pad is meant to absorb the shock of any Dry Firing.

Also I figured how to straighten the kill rod after it gets bent.
I put the tube trap on my work bench and put a long screw driver on the inside of the trap and on the rod. With a lump hammer I give it a couple of shots and the rod returns to its original straightness. Simple but it took me a long time to figure it out.

The screw driver has to go thru the trap in the kill rod slot
Thanks Again
Bill Lane

Beaver: Live Trapping Techniques DVD Testimonial

Heres a testimonial we recently received on our NEW DVD titled "Beaver: Live Trapping Techniques"

Guys,

Our IADCA Association just bought your DVD as a giveaway in the raffle at our next meeting on Aug. 11. Since I bought it for the association I thought I should preview it to make sure it is acceptable for the members to view… ha ha. I must say you guys have produced the absolute best instructional DVD that I have ever seen. The photography and information presented is very clear and concise. Anyone buying this DVD to learn the equipment and techniques should be able to go right out and do a good job at live beaver trapping. That is quite unlike it was 14 years ago when I bought a two Hancock traps and had to learn by the “seat of my pants” including how to set the traps safely.

You guys have set the standard for instructional information and one can only hope that others will take the cue from you.

Thank you, Tim Christie, Wildlife Management Services

NTA Convention '07

I'm sitting in the Detroit airport on my way to the National Trappers Convention (NTA) being held Aug. 2 - 5 in Goshen, IN. I've attended these events since the early 70's, I think my first NTA Convention was at the Space Mink farm in Beemerville, NJ. Chuck Spearman was just introducing the Trapper Magazine (called the Midwest Trapper at the time), to the fur trapping community. There wasn't anything like it on the market at the time and Chuck timed the market perfectly as the fur market was experiencing a fur boom.

Anyway, back to '07, if you've never attended one of these events and you are interested in any aspect of capturing ot controlling wildlife I guarantee you it will be time well spent. While it remains primarily a fur-trapping focused event, there is no question that the wildlife control industry continues to increase its' presence. Hence, the reason for my going. There is equipment of all types, there are hobbyists, professionals, and weekend warriors , tailgaters selling used equipment, demonstrations ongoing and it is sure to be an action packed weekend.

While I have been attending these events for 30+ years I predict that this year will be a turning point in its' character. To set the stage for those that have never attended, the NTA Convention while being a week-long business meeting for the organization itself, it is also considered a modern version of the rendezvous' held by the mountain men of yesteryear. Now don't get me wrong, there is very little buckskin, few campfires, and no blackpowder shoots. What I mean is it has been "the" tradeshow of the fur industry where dealers of all sizes and sorts come together to market/sell their wares. Many dealers in the summer months are orphans from their families pulling oversized and many times over-weight trailers all over the country, packed with as large a quantity of inventory as will fit. The consumer (trapper) has used these conventions to purchase supplies for the upcoming season and avoid shipping costs.

While I still consider these events to be absolutely worthwhile and should/will continue for many years to come, what I predict is that the character of the Convention will EVOLVE into more of a mainstream show where dealers, manufacturers, factory reps. will set up displays and showcase their latest products, or hot products of the year, etc. But the hauling of a complete inventory of products all over the country will by necessity decline. Heres the nasty little secret....... the economics just don't support the rendezvous any longer. It's a known fact that everytime you move or touch a product it costs money. So by the time you load a product into a trailer, drive X number of miles, unload it, reload whatever doesn't sell after a convention, and then unpack it once you get back home .......... on top of $3.00 gallon +/- gas, food, hotel rooms, the expense of being away from the business. Do the math !

I'm not saying this change is bad, I'm just saying this is an evolution that makes sense. There are a number of very large and well known fur trapping supply dealers who will not be attending the '07 NTA Convention for the reasons I've outlined above. We'll see if my prediction comes true.

In the meantime, I'll be spending time with Tim Julien, Pres. of NWCOA, at the NWCOA booth.........it will still be fun !!! Just different !

BEAVER: Live Trapping Techniques DVD

NEW PRODUCT

"BEAVER....Live Trapping Techniques" DVD

Wildlife Control Supplies, LLC is pleased to present the 2nd in a series of
educational wildlife control and animal handling productions this one titled
"Beaver ...Live Trapping Techniques".

This DVD features Don Lafountain, a Certified Wildlife Control Professional
(CWCP) and a nationally recognized beaver control expert. Don is also
co-owner of Integrated Wildlife Management, a company specializing in all
aspects of nuisance beaver control.
Don has 20+ years in the nuisance wildlife industry and conducts year-round
beaver control projects for State agencies, Fortune 500 companies as well
as private citizens in his home State of Massachusetts. This production
was filmed by two-time emmy award-winning videographer Eric J. Budney,

This DVD covers the following:

* Beaver Biology
* Proper Setting & Safely Handling the Hancock-style trap
* Trap Types Covered:
Hancock-Style trap
Bailey trap
Cage trap
* Set Construction
* Baits & Lures
* Using a Transfer Cage
* More

WCS Turtle Trap

WCS Collapsible Turtle Trap

One of the problems facing anyone who wants/needs to trap turtles is the shear size of most of the traps on the market today. Many of them are rigid, and the size of small refrigerators, not to mention that they may cost as much as a couple of hundred dollars or more. The question quickly becomes.... "how many of these can you fit in your service vehicle", and once you're done with them..."where will you store them" ?

The Turtle Trap by WCS addresses both of these items. This fully collapsible turtle trap is made exclusively for WCS and is designed to handle the largest of turtles. The trap when set up measures 30"W x 25"H x 47"L. It has 3 D-Shaped hoops made of spring steel which forms the trap body, this trap won't roll when placed in the water. The net mesh is 2.5" square and is very durable and will give years of service.

The trap comes complete with "spreader" rods to hold the trap in its' rigid set position. It also has a bait bag included in the rear of the trap for ease of setting. PLEASE NOTE: Leave the top 1/4 of the trap exposed above the surface of the water. Turtles need to be able to come up for air, if you completely submerge your turtle trap you will kill the turtles. If you want to catch turtles and don't want to deal with a cage as large as a refrigerator, this trap is the ticket !

BAITING: This trap is very easy to bait. You take the removeable bait bag (included) out of the trap and fill it with small sun fish, suckers, chicken necks, a piece of beef liver, any type of bloody meat. Then tie the bait bag back into the interior center of the trap. The turtles will smell the bait and enter the trap through the large funnel opening, but can't find their way out. When using a large number of turtle traps it is handy to fill all your bait bags ahead of time and then place them in the freezer. When it is time to go catch turtles, simply remove your pre-loaded bait bags from the freezer and you are ready to go turtle trapping.

WCS Turtle Trap

WCS Collapsible Turtle Traps

Groundhog Kokaine

Let me dispel any myths about what it is………..and what it is NOT !

The BASE of "Ghog Kokaine" is in fact horse sweet feed. But it is just that the BASE, not the active ingredient or major attraction. The horse sweet feed is sprayed with a formulation which is provided to us from James White, the inventor. WCS makes the Ghog Kokaine according to the exact directions provided to us by the inventor and we package it in gallons. It is made FRESH as orders are submitted, WCS does not make Ghog Koke and store it, it is a FRESH bait.

Now, all that being said, will horse sweet feed catch ghogs......."probably", but not nearly as effectively or as lasting as the sprayed material. That’s like saying will straight fruit paste catch a squirrel, sure....but not nearly as many or as consistently as when nut oils are mixed with it !! 'nough said !!

WCT Conference 2008

Just received word from Lisa Erickson, for those of you that haven't heard yet, the 2008 WCT/NWCOA Conference
will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Covington, Kentucky on January 28, 29, & 30.  I believe this will be our 10th
WCT Conference, wouldn't miss it, see you all there !   As more information becomes available I will be sure to post it. 

Starling Stopper

FROM: Wildlife Control Supplies, LLC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - NEW PRODUCT

The Starling Stopper is a bird trap designed to humanely and safely remove
baby starlings, at least 1 ½ weeks old, from bathroom and dryer exhaust
vents. The trap itself is 3 ¼ inches in diameter, 9 inches in length and
weighs less than a half pound. It has a clear plastic one-way door to allow
baby birds to enter the trap, and a removable nose cone to allow easy
removal of birds once caught in the trap.

To operate, simply remove the exterior vent cover from the dryer vent in
which the birds are nesting. The mother will typically fly out within 3 - 5
minutes. After insuring the mother bird is out, insert the Starling Stopper
into the vent pipe as far as possible. Seal any gaps between the trap and
the vent pipe with duct tape. Remove your ladder. The mother bird will
return and perch on the edge of the Starling Stopper. She will call her
young into the trap and feed them through the screen on the nose cone.
After 24-36 hours, remove the young from the trap (usually 1-3 at a time)
and place them in a transfer cage to be taken to a rehabilitator, relocate
them nearby or euthanize them, following all applicable local laws.
Re-insert the trap into the vent pipe and repeat until there are no longer
sounds coming from the dryer vent.

Typically starlings will have 2-3 broods per year with 4-6 young in each
brood between March and July. Starlings may carry bird mites and
histoplasmosis spores. Always wear protective gear such as rubber gloves
and a HEPA filter mask when working with or near birds or bird droppings.

A All Animal Control

A All Animal Control Opens 15th Franchise Location Scott Buzby from Edina,
Minn., has acquired the rights to A All Animal Control's Minneapolis/St.
Paul franchise (6/12/2007)
MINNEAPOLIS - Scott Buzby from Edina, Minn., has acquired the rights to A
All Animal Control's <http://www.AAllAnimalControl.com> Minneapolis/St.
Paul franchise and is preparing for its grand opening.
"Scott brings a deep knowledge of wildlife management to his operation and
we are excited to have him as the newest member of our team," said Mark E.
Dotson, chief executive officer of A All Animal Control.
The Minneapolis/St. Paul location marks the 15 franchise office for A All
Animal Control. Starting from its original location in Colorado, A All
Animal Control has grown into a National Wildlife Management company with
offices coast to coast.

Daytime Prowlers, Nightime Howlers Roam Neighborhoods

From June 9, 2007 Danbury News Times, by Robert Miller

In Danbury, Connecticut, Jean Pawlik saw a coyote on her lawn on as well as a night of wild howling and yipping.
Her neighbors have seen coyotes within 15 feet of their houses and others in the area are hearing the same late-night symphony and seeing coyotes out and about in daylight.
Dale May, director of the Department of Environmental Protection's wildlife division, said Friday that male and female coyotes are now busy providing for their offspring. Coyotes don't have packs, but they do maintain a family unit from spring to fall. They mate in early spring and their pups are born in mid-April or May. While the parents are not strictly monogamous, they can stay together for several years, rearing the pups together. The social group breaks up in the fall, when the pups go off to live on their own.
While people have seen coyotes confront family dogs, May said that's probably more of a territorial face-off than looking for a meal. In general, coyotes are wary of humans.
"Unless a coyote is sick, injured, or aggressive to humans, we don't do anything,'' said Officer Craig Simone of the city's Animal Control Division.

AnimalRemovalPro.com

WCS is pleased to introduce for its' professional customers a NEW web-based referral service called AnimalRemovalPro.com. AnimalRemovalPro.com is a professionally designed website with its' sole purpose being to drive service seeking customers to our WCS customers.

Clients needing nuisance wildlife control services can go to AnimalRemovalPro.com, plug in their zip code and they will be presented with wildlife control companies operating within a particular mileage range.

There is no additional charge to WCS business customers for this service. To our knowledge there is no other wildlife control or animal handling distributor offering this service. Just another way that WCS says "thank you" !

Speed Dip as a Protective Trap Coating

Throughout the course of a year WCS fields many questions regarding the products, the need and the method (s) used for protecting traps from harmful rust. Rather than trying to be all things to all people, if you know what I mean, I'm going to limit this post to the use of the protective dip product which is mixed with gasoline, sometimes commonly referred to as Speed Dip. While there are a number of trap dips on the market that utilize gasoline for dilution, Speed Dip is the trade name developed by Andy Stoe of Penn Yan, NY. and has been in widespread use by trappers for 25+/- years.

Speed Dip is a petroleum-based product and is available in black, brown, or white colors. It is packaged in paint can containers and is marketed in quart and gallon sizes. Speed Dip should be diluted 3 to 1, meaning for every unit of Speed Dip you would ADD 3 units of white gasoline. For example for every quart of Speed Dip product, you would ADD 3 quarts of white gasoline, making a total of 4 quarts of mixture. PLEASE NOTE: There are two important points to remember when working with any gasoline products...this should be used out of doors, in the open air, NOT IN THE GARAGE. Also, SPEED DIP is highly flammable once mixed and needs to be mixed and stored in a proper container.

I like to store the Speed Dip mixture in a 5 gallon bucket, new buckets and lids can be purchased at you favorite big box home improvement store. Once mixed, according to the ratio mentioned above, you can dip your traps as needed and seal the bucket with a tight fitting lid to avoid evaporation. Over time, if the mixture becomes weak, or is not coating your traps as well as you'd like, simply add alittle Speed Dip concentrate to your already prepared mixture.

Let me stop right here and point out a problem area we've seen trappers or wildlife operators get themselves in to ! We ALWAYS, ALWAYS recommend using the highly refined white gas (otherwise known as Coleman fuel) to mix with the SPEED DIP concentrate as it results in a nice dry, shiny, non-stick protective coating on your traps. Some folks decide to go down their own path and take the "cheap" route and buy the least expensive unleaded fuel they can find. Then they wonder WHY their traps remain sticky & gummy, making their hands black every time they touch them. Heed my warning....'nough said !!

Now, working out of doors, you've mixed up your speed dip 3 to 1 as we recommend into a 5 gallon container or the like and you're ready to dip your traps. STOP...before you get started their are a few things you should consider. Clothing for one, the speed dip will coat your clothing just as well as your traps, and I don't care how careful you think you're going to be, wear clothing & shoes that you want mind becoming stained. Gloves, not the thin latex gloves, some thicker rubber gloves to protect your hands. Eye protection, you don't want to splash any mix and get some in your eyes. Now you're ready...........

For foothold and bodygrip traps you simply immerse them into your bucket and if there are spots that don't quite fit into the solution use a disposable paint brush to cover the exposed area. For cage traps, you can use a shallow pan, something like an oversized cookie sheet, it only needs to be approx. 1" deep. Pour your solution into the pan, then place a cage in the shallow pan and roll it so all four sides are coated, including the back and the front door. The paint brush really comes in handy for cages. Hang your dipped traps outside on a rack or in a bush or tree for 1 - 3 days, depending on temperature and air circulation your traps will be dry and ready to go. It is important to note that traps can be dipped right out of the box, there is no need to rust or even degrease them prior to dipping.

Dip solution can be stored for an indefinite period in a proper container. When traps become rusty or the protective coating is worn off from use, simply re-dip.

Kaba Bird Shock tape for Billboards

KABA bird shock tape is ideal for billboard structures because the 1/32" flat profile doesn't represent a significant trip hazard to workers. KABA is the most flexible electrical product ever offered because it is 'tape'. Changing elevations or hopping over the bolts heads is done without having to end runs and make electrical connections. It can be rolled out on horizontal or vertical surfaces. It can be laid upon small diameter pipes and catwalk toe plates. Of the many billboards where KABA has been installed, board owners elected to have a dedicated A/C circuit tied to a circuit breaker found at the base of the mast pole to disable the system while workers perform routine maintenance tasks. The pictures taken are of the KABA rubber tape product, which is black in color. Its glued on with a urethane sealant adhesive, commonly found at any home improvement store. Please note:

KABA is also available as a peel & stick "clear" product for architecturally sensitive or historically significant structures where invisibility of the product is of the utmost importance. The kaba tape is actually clear although the picture shows it with a red backing which is peeled off when applied. The clear kaba tape has its' own adhesive.

WCS Multi-Catch Rodent Trap

WCS has just introduced their NEW Multi-Catch Rodent trap to the wildlife/pest control markets. There isn't any other trap on the market which provides multi-catch capabilities for chipmunks, rats, and flying squirrels. The WCS Multi-Catch Rodent trap measures 20"L x 12"W x 6"H, and is constructed of 1" x .5" rust resistant, galvanized wire mesh which will render years of service.

The trap features two (2) counter-balanced entry doors, one on each end of the trap which can easily be adjusted for sensitivity by adding or deleting weight on the triggering rods. There is a centrally located bait chamber in the center of the trap, which is equipped with a removable bait basket for ease of baiting or cleaning. There is a latch secured door over the top of the bait chamber and on one end of the trap for easy removal of captured animals.

Animals enter the trap in an attempt to access the bait in the center of the trap, their body weight depresses the inclined door which entices them to enter the interior of the trap (like a see-saw). Once the rodent steps off the opened door the counter-balancing weights close the door behind them. It's that simple !

For baiting you simply remove the bait basket, fill with your favorite rodent bait, i.e. sunflower seed, oatmeal drizzled with pancake syrup, bird seed, bacon grease, etc. Secure the bait in the interior bait chamber and the trap is ready to be placed into position. For chipmunks that may be along a foundation, a stone wall, underneath a bird feeder , etc. For rats, since they are neophobic, you need to be patient, however along a wall or right in the rats pathway. It will take several days for the rats to acclimate to the trap. Flying squirrels are commonly identified as a nuisance in attic spaces, the trap is perfectly sized to be placed there, or in crawlspaces, etc.
I would recommend placing apple slices in the interior of the trap (outside of the bait chamber) if it will be checked on an extended basis.

Snakeguard Snake Traps

There are basically two commercially available snake traps on the market today. They both operate on the same principle, that is to place the snake trap in such a manner as to force the snake to enter the snake trap, whereby it is captured on a glue strip or glueboard. A snake when encountering the glue surface inside the confines of a trap cannot merely turn its' head and leave the trap without being captured. A snake must draw its' entire body into the trap, in an attempt to reverse direction and thereby is captured in the glue along its' entire bodylength.

The formulation of glue used in both of the snake traps is such that it can be neutralized if the desire is to capture a snake and then relocate it. Neutralization of the glue is accomplished by pouring regular vegetable oil (or spraying a vegetable oil such as PAM) on the captured snake along its' entire length. It typically will take from between a half and a full cup of vegetable oil to release a snake unharmed. This process will take several minutes, so you need to be patient.

The Snakeguard Snake Trap which was the first to hit the commercial market has enjoyed widespread acceptance among professional operators and homeowners for capturing and removing snakes. This snake trap, constructed of corrugated cardboard has a glue "pattern" built into the inside of the trap. The glue pattern is in the shape of a "V", where the point of the "V" touches the extreme outside edge of the snake trap on its' inside. This requires that the snake fully enter the snake trap before its' head initially encounters the glue. When the snake attempts to leave by drawing its' body in behind itself its' body is "stuck" to the outwardly positioned legs of the "V" glue pattern. The Snakeguard snake trap is an excellent tool for indoor applications such as a sunroom, porch, garage, basement area, etc. Due to its' construction material it is not so well suited for outdoor areas.

Setting the Snakeguard Snake Trap: The Snakeguard snake traps initially come completely flat for ease of shipping. Remove the outer plastic covering that it comes shipped in and open the snake trap at its' midpoint to expose the "V" pattern of glue which has two protective strips covering it. While holding the box open, firmly grasp one end of one of the protective strips and peel off, exposing the underlying glue. Do the same for the remaining side. While continuing to hold the box open, bend the corrugated cardboard along the pre-defined lines, such that it forms a rectangular box. There are two tabs located on one side of the outside edge of the rectangle. These are placed through their corresponding slots in the roof of the snake trap so the box holds its' shape. You should now have a rectangular box with the Snakeguard logo on top, with the glue exposed on the inside. The only thing left to do is to place the snake trap along a wall, foundation or similar which will guide the snake into the trap. It sometimes helps to place a piece of duct-tape from the inside edge of the snake trap to the wall it is placed against so the snake cannot attempt to "squeeze" between the box and the wall without entering the trap.

The Snakeguard snake trap is able to capture some of the largest nuisance snakes as we have personally seen it capture black snakes in the 5.5 ft. range. These traps are available at
www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com

Bat Cone improves bat exclusions

The BATCONE is a new time-saving bat exclusion device, invented by Jim Dreisacher who owns and operates Westchester Wildlife. The BAT CONE basically is a humane, one-way door for bats to leave the structure and NOT return.

The BATCONE is currently produced in two models; 1. the Standard Bat Cone, which is one-piece and is made of lightweight, yet durable plastic. As the name implies it is a cone or tapered funnel 5.75 inches long, with a 1.5 inch opening at the end. At the opposite end, or the end you would attach to the structure there is a rigid plastic flange which is 6 inches by 6 inches. As with both of the Bat Cone models the flange can be cut or bent to the angle of the structure for anchoring. The bat cone can be anchored using deck screws (wood) , stapled or even taped over a bats entry/exit point. The optimal position of the BAT CONE once it is installed is for it to have a slight downward slope. Bats cannot grip the inside of the bat cone, once they exit through the cone, they cannot re-enter.

As you can see in the photo, it is sometimes necessary to add some copper mesh underneath the BAT CONE to take up the space between the bat cone and the structure. The only opening you want for the bats to exit is through the BATCONE. To limit the exit point for the bats you may also need to apply a closed cell foam such as Todal foam, or caulk on each side of the opening.

2. Pro-Cone is the latest bat cone model that has been developed. The ProCone is a two-piece bat cone, with the flexible vinyl flange being separate from the tapered plastic cone. The ProCone measures approximately 6" in length with a 1.5" opening on one end. The vinyl flange measures 7 inches by 7 inches, making it versatile for mounting to structures, including dissimilar surfaces, i.e. stone chimney up against clapboard siding. While both models of bat cone are reusable , the ProCone lends itself especially well being to being reusable as the vinyl flange material can be purchased separately.

Pro-Cone can be screwed, stapled or taped into position over a bats entry/exit point. With the optimal positioning being a slight downward slope to the tapered cone.

Once a BATCONE is mounted over a bats entry/exit point in a structure it should be left in place a reasonable amount of time to allow the bats to exit the structure. This time period will vary, however 5 - 7 days is typically sufficient according to Bat Conservation International. Leaving a bat cone in place for longer periods is not detrimental. Please Note: It may be necessary to use more than one Bat Cone to exclude bats from a structure. All entry/exit points on a structure must be identified and a bat cone installed to successfully exclude the bats. Failure to follow this procedure may result in merely moving the bats to another part of the building.

Once it has been determined that the bats have been successfully excluded from a structure it is then necessary to remove each of the installed bat cones and permanently seal the exit point openings using hardware cloth or copper mesh inseted into the hole and then completely sealed with closed cell foam or a quality silicone caulking.

The BATCONE or Pro-Cone are both time-saving devices for excluding bats from structures and eliminate the need to fabricate something onsite. The bat cone looks professional when mounted and will leave your customer with an impression of confidence in your ability to solve their bat problem.

Vanish Raccoon Eviction Paste

VANISH raccoon eviction paste causes a biological instinctual reaction in female raccoon to flee an area where she is denning, many times taking her young with her. VANISH is a naturally occurring glandular based product, and it is no more a repellent (nor should it be classed as such) than coyote urine to a coyote !

VANISH has the consistency of a thick paste, making it easier to handle and apply than a liquid. It is especially well suited for evicting denning raccoons from inaccessible areas such as attic recesses, or down chimneys. Simply apply a "smear" of VANISH (approach. 1/2 oz.) to a rag or to a tennis ball and toss as close to the area where she is denning as possible. In the case of a chimney, it is a simple matter to just drop the VANISH laden tennis ball down the flue where the raccoon is dwelling. The ball can then be retrieved for disposal or re-use through the opened damper, once the raccoon and her young have vacated. Place the ball or rag in a plastic ziplock bag and tightly seal it to maintain its' freshness.

If there is a distinct entry/exit hole on the outside of a structure which the raccoon is using for access to an attic area, smear some VANISH on the upper lip of the hole so that the female may get some on her back fur while crawling through the hole. This will add to the effectiveness of the VANISH application.

While no claim is made that VANISH is 100% effective at evicting denning raccoons, since its' introduction to the marketplace in 2003 it has proven 95+ % successful. Remember, you're still dealing with a wild animal and its' reaction to VANISH depends on the individual characteristics of each animal encountered.

PLEASE NOTE: To place or apply VANISH where it will have the greatest chance of success many times involves working on ladders, rooftops, over or under chimney flues, and in confined spaces, i.e. attics. If you are uncomfortable or unsure of yourself in these unsafe situations you should considering hiring a professional wildlife control operator.

NY Wildlife Mgmt. Assoc. Show

Carol & I are just back from the NYWDMA seminar held in Owego, NY and I have to tell you we had a wonderful time !! This is perhaps the 5th NY show we've attended and I've got to tell you these guys work hard all year long to put on a quality seminar. This year was a couple of "firsts" for them.

1. They changed locations this year, for the past several years it had been held up at Carrier Circle near Syracuse. This year, in an attempt to attract some more "downstate" folks they moved the venue to Owego, NY, which is about 10 miles west of Binghamton. The location was right on the Susquehanna River, held at a Treadway Inn, the accomodations and hospitality were wonderful.
2. They changed their seminar format to a 2 day conference and were able to offer to full days of course instruction, after-hours roundtable, and plenty of time for the attendees to visit the vendor displays.

The NYWDMA is run by top-notch professionals and they work hard to put on a high quality conference. If you haven't had the chance to attend this show in the past you should give it serious consideration for the future. The information exchanged both formally and informally after-hours is most certainly going to improved even the most seasoned professionals business.

Carol & I are hoping they hold the '07 conference in Owego, great location & accomodations, lots of great people, and a quality course offering are certain to attract a great crowd !! Hope to see you there !!

Skype

Skype has been around for awhile, I even downloaded it sometime ago but never really explored its' features or the convenience of it. Recently, I received a new invitation to join the Skype community and I have to tell you it is one of those "killer applications" you should have on your PC.

In a nutshell, Skype is a voice application which I can liken to instant messaging. People who are in your contacts list can see when your on your computer, you see them, and you can talk over the internet. O.K., heres the best part..........it's FREE !! Anywhere in the world. The sound quality is wonderful, and you basically can hold a hands-free conversation, even while doing other things. If you're one of those folks that has a webcam, you can even turn on the cam and see each other while talking.

Now think of it, how much time do you spend in front of your computer ? I know I spend an "inordinate" amount of time in front of the tube and this is a great way of staying in touch with folks.

Now I know some of you are saying "Yeah,but I don want to be bother with a voice call" while on
my computer. No problem......you can just set yourself as unavailable. For those of you that don't like to type, Skype is the answer, now you can talk to your circle of friends and associates.

WCS is using Skype, and you should consider taking advantage of it too !!