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NWCOA NEWS
A publication prepared exclusively for members of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association®
Inside This Issue
Association Check-In:
General Organizer’s Report
by Charles Holt, CWCP®
Business Tip...............4
Governing Board
Elections.....................6
Sneak Peek Wildlife
Expo 2016................11
Professional
Achievement
Nomination Form . ..14
Industry News..........15
New Product
Announcement.........15
Ad Index
Flight Control.............5
Tomahawk..................8
Wildlife Control Supplies..........................16
With the NWCOA election right around the corner I want to take
the time to comment on some things NWCOA.
First, I am happy to see Michael Beran running for the General
Organizer position. His energy and enthusiasm for our industry, past
experience with non-profit associations, and knowledge of our industry
make him a catch for NWCOA. Please support and welcome him to
the Board.
The WILDLIFE EXPO is just around the corner. While saving
commentary for the EXPO edition of newsletter, I would still like to
encourage operators to attend. If you haven’t been to an EXPO you
have no idea what you are missing. January is a pretty good month
to be in Las Vegas, lots of cheap flights from around the country,
and Vegas offers entertainment venues to make for a great working
vacation. The best investments you will ever make involve investing
in yourself. If you are in the wildlife control industry, the WILDLIFE
EXPO is that investment. You will be amazed at the energy, ideas, and
revenue generating ideas you will return home with and combining
that with a venue that offers the opportunity to unwind is a winner.
NWCOA has made some great strides over a few short years.
There were some growing pains, but I think Jason Reger put it best
when he commented (not verbatim) that it was not so much what was
done but how quickly it was accomplished.
A few of the strides NWCOA has made would include:
• The Wildlife Expo - an event truly like no other, offering
training, networking and so much more to those involved in the
wildlife control industry.
• NWCOA Bat Standards which offer protection to not only
bat populations but to protect those involved with ending negative
human bat interactions. These standards have been accepted by bat
conservation groups, bat working groups, and government agencies.
• Having a voice on a number of working groups as well as
making long lasting relationships with other nonprofit associations.
• Having success in both Nevada and California addressing
issues that could have greatly impacted wildlife control in those states.
• The BOTC/NWCTP training programs offering professional
training to both those entering this industry, as well as, offering those
currently engaged in wildlife control, a boost. The number of attendees
who report increased revenue and success truly amazes.
• Hiring of Cooper Coron & Associates as Management
continued on page 13
NWCOA NEWS
Issue 18: Fall 2015
NWCOA Office
Bulletin
The Executive Staff wants to stay
in touch with our members. Here
are a few bullets to keep you up
to date.
• Mark your calendars! The
2016 Wildlife Expo is set
for January 15-17, 2016.
NWCOA Certification
training will be offered 2
days prior and 1 day after
the Expo.
• Watch the NWCOA e-News
for announcements of
upcoming NWCOA
Webinar Series.
NWCOA Contact
Information:
Andrea Coron, Exec. Director
Kristin Coron, Assoc. Director
NWCOA
PO Box 655
Fredericksburg, VA 22404
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 540-374-5600
Toll-free: 855-Go-NWCOA
Website: www.NWCOA.com
Office Hours
Unless traveling, NWCOA staff
maintain office hours from 9am to
3pm (EST). If you don’t catch the
staff at the office, please leave a
message or send an email and we
will get right back to you.
NWCOA NEWS
NWCOA Governing Board
President
Jason Reger, CWCP®
Blue Ridge Wildlife Management
Roanoke, VA
540-776-1769
[email protected]
Vice-president
Charles Parker
Parker Wildlife Control
Kenner, LA
504-338-7517
[email protected]
Secretary
Vikki Rawe, CWCP®
Tri-State Wildlife Management
Alexandria, KY
895-635-0037
[email protected]
Treasurer
Mike Tucker, CWCP®
Wildlife Removal Services
Bloomington, MN
952-884-3707
[email protected]
General Organizer
Charles Holt, CWCP®
Advantage Wildlife Removal
New Richmond, OH
513-553-1888
[email protected]
Eastern Director
Jim Goins
Virginia Wildlife Management
Gloucester Point, VA
804-642-5408
[email protected]
Western Director
Mark Hutchison
Critter Control of Reno
Reno, NV
775-322-5558
[email protected]
Central Director
Jordan Budenski
Bud’s Nuisance Wildlife Removal
New Ulm, MN
507-351-1393
[email protected]
At-Large Director
Foreign and U.S. Territories
Tony DeNicola
White Buffalo, Inc.
Haymarket, VA
860-790-0224
[email protected]
NWCOA News welcomes advertisers. Contact Andrea Coron at
[email protected] for rates and publishing schedule.
Manuscripts, photos, press releases, and new product announcements on
topics related to wildlife damage management, wildlife control, or operating a company may be sent to [email protected]. Full bylines
will be provided for writers submitting material for articles. Reprints
welcomed. Photos should be sent in jpg or tiff format in high resolution
(3 mg or higher). NWCOA News reserves the right to edit material for
space and clarity and/or reject submissions deemed not in the best interest of our members.
NWCOA News welcomes receipt of books, videos, and other items on
wildlife damage management and business subjects for review. Send
items to Stephen M. Vantassel, 1105 W. Washington Lewistown,
MT 59457. Include return postage, if you want items returned.
2
Issue 18: Fall 2015
Editor’s
Desk:
President’s Message
from Jason Reger, CWCP®
Stephen
Vantassel,
I am always puzzled by
the some of the very harsh
statements some WCOs make
regarding certification and/or
training. One guy seemed to go
out of his way to criticize one
of NWCOA’s programs. He
made several assertions which
were quite strange. First, the
training was too expensive. My
reaction is “really?” How many
trainings have you ran? Do you
know what it takes/costs to put
one on? His second argument
was that he didn’t need the
training because he was already
proficient and if he needed more
help his relative would set him
straight. Well that may be true.
But having attended most of
NWCOA’s training events, I can
say with pretty high confidence
that no one walks away not
learning anything. Even those
that have years of experience
often comment to me that
they picked up some valuable
pointers.
Now let me be clear that if
the gentlemen said the cost
of training was too great for
the potential return in his area
then I would not be so puzzled.
The cost-effective argument is
one that every business owner
has to make for themselves.
After all, business is local. For
example, if a WCO came from
a part of the country, such as
New York City, then I would
not be at all surprised if he
avoided taking the Shooting
In the last NWCOA
Newsletter there was a concern
about an article written in the
Member News section. The
concern was the use of a trap
when removing bats from a
structure.
To be clear, trapping bats
for any reason or purpose,
other than for scientific research
or public health concerns, is
prohibited by the NWCOA Bat
Standards, “Section 2.8.V. Bat
Traps – Bat trapping is not a
biologically sound method of
eviction/venting and should not
be used to mitigate a structural
bat infestation. In some cases,
however, bat trapping may be
ordered by a regulatory authority to address specific health
concerns such as human rabies
exposure or to perform scientific
research.”
NWCOA has come to the
conclusion that the member
made an honest mistake and
misinterpreted the use of traps
for bats based on the NWCOA
Bat Standards.
WCOs and NWCOA
makes mistakes. No individual or organization is perfect.
Should the article have been
published by NWCOA? Probably not. NWCOA made a mistake by doing so. If anybody is
to blame here it is NWCOA and
not the member. Had the article
not been published, I would not
be writing this in my message.
There is not enough written in
the article published to understand truly what happened. It
is the picture that depicts the
problem.
If you ever have questions
about how to inspect for or mitigate a structural bat infestation,
please refer to the NWCOA Professional Standards of Practice
For Structural Bat Management
For Wildlife Control Operators.
This document is available by
e-mailing GoNWCOA@gmail.
com or calling NWCOA’s executive office at 540/374-5600.
On another note, NWCOA
is really excited to be partnering with NPMA on the Wildlife
Expo 2016. It’s being held
in Las Vegas in January. For
more information about the
great educational sessions being
offered, turn to page 11 of this
newsletter. I think it is important to take notice of the companies that have committed as a
silver sponsor of this important
Wildlife Industry event – their
generous sponsorship allows us
to pull together top-notch speakers! Thank you Batcone, Critter
Control, Tomahawk Live Trap
and WCS!
Hope you all finish the year
strong and get a chance to enjoy
some of the things you most
love to do!
continued on pg. 4
NWCOA NEWS
3
Issue 18: Fall 2015
Business Tip: Build Your On-Call Team
Ever wanted to help more of
your customers solve house
issues while also adding to your
bottom line? Sure everyone is
offering lots of add on services;
Attic insulation, crawl space
remediation, roof cleaning, pest
control (or wildlife control for
you pest control guys) and even
tree trimming for us folks that
own your own lifts. But what
about the service that most of us
come across weekly if not daily,
Electrical and Plumbing repairs?!
Rodents (mice, rats & squirrels)
as well as raccoons are always
shredding electrical lines in
attics. This damage is typically
found when doing an attic
cleanout (have concessions
in your attic contracts for this
possible add on services when
uncovering these concerns).
But plumbing you ask? Yes,
plumbing!
We are finding more and
more squirrels chewing on
PVC stack pipes as well as
PEX water supply lines in
walls, shower enclosures
and under spa style
bathtubs. Flying squirrels
seem to be the main culprits
up here in NH, but I’m sure
it varies by region. PEX,
if you don’t know, is a soft
durable water supply line
used for water supply (it
expands when frozen and doesn’t
crack like copper does when
frozen - great product, I even
did my whole house in PEX)
and also is being utilized for
radiant floors and supply lines to
baseboard heaters at manifolds
coming off the boiler furnace.
All are susceptible to chewing
from rodents and can cause
leaks.
If you haven’t already aligned
yourself with a licensed
electrician you can use to refer or
Editor’s Desk Continued from page3
training because NYC is not a
gun friendly place. So I would
completely understand that
taking that training would not
be economically advisable.
But too often WCOs feel the
need to criticize NWCOA
training and sometimes,
training in general, because
of a deep seated anger about
education. Perhaps they are
offended that they didn’t
NWCOA NEWS
get the recognition for their
expertise and therefore have to
criticize others who are called
experts. Sometimes, I think
WCOs protest too much. It’s
a well-known psychological
tactic that when someone feels
insecure they have to lash out
and act tough. I don’t know
why this guy went out of his
way to criticize NWCOA so
much. What I can say is that
NWCOA works hard to find
4
as a sub-contractor for yourself,
now is the time. Add to that a
licensed plumber and you will
instantly build value with your
client. Most people nowadays
are used to one-stop shopping,
and your wildlife firm should be
no different. Doing so will help
increase your revenues.
Jesse Fraser
Critter Control of NH
1-800-CRITTER statewide
www.crittercontrol.com
quality instructors. The training
programs are under regular
review to ensure that they
continue to meet the needs of
the industry. I know that the
vast majority of attendees that
I have met were glad they took
the training. I would dare say
this speaks volumes for the
legitimacy of our programs.
Why not attend a NWCOA
event soon? And see if I know
what I am talking about.
Issue 18: Fall 2015
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by be coming or adding a goose
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If interested please
call 1-877-554-3373
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looking for Geese
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If interested, call
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For info call 1-877-55-GEESE
Interested in testing out
Stop The Drop®?
Order a sample quart by calling 1-877-554-3373
FlightControl® is a registered trademark of Arkion Life Sciences. Always read and follow label directions.
NWCOA NEWS
5
Issue 18: Fall 2015
2015 NWCOA Governing Board Elections
The 2015 NWCOA Governing Board Election is under way. Information about and pictures of
candidates for each position on the board are provided below. According to the NWCOA Bylaws,
you must be a professional member of NWCOA in good standing to be eligible to vote. Ballots were
mailed on October 1, 2015. If you have not received a ballot, and think you should have received one,
please call the executive office at 540/374-5600.
this progress and the mission of
NWCOA.
Jason Reger, CWCP®,
Blue Ridge Wildlife &
Pest Management, LLC,
Roanoke, VA
Running for re-election,
unopposed for the office of
President
Nominee Essay:
As the current President of
NWCOA, I would like to help
continue the growth of NWCOA
that has been set forth from the
current NWCOA governing
board and previous boards since
2010. NWCOA has seen a 16%
increase in membership and
a 23% increase in revenue in
the past year of my presidency.
These increases are due to
strong involvement from current
and past Boards, along with
the addition of our Executive
Staff. If re-elected as President
of NWCOA, I will put forth
my greatest effort to continue
NWCOA NEWS
Nominee Experience:
I attended the University of
Tennessee, Knoxville where
I earned a B.S. in Wildlife
& Fisheries Science and a
Minor in Forestry in 1996.
Since establishing Blue Ridge
Wildlife & Pest Management,
LLC in 1998, I have worked
as one of our Staff Wildlife &
Fisheries Biologist and Safety
Manager. In that capacity, I have
performed a multitude of tasks
relating to the management
of urban vertebrates and
invertebrates; specifically in
the areas of damage control to
residential, commercial, and
government properties.
I am a strong believer in
education and industry
involvement. I have held the
NWCOA Certified Wildlife
Control Professional® (CWCP)
certification since 2002. I served
as the NWCOA Virginia State
Representative from 2002 to
2007, and again from 2011
to present. I have contributed
to the Virginia Cooperative
Extension Vertebrate Pest
Control Manual: A Guide for
Wildlife Managers in Virginia.
I received the 2012 NWCOA
6
Volunteer of the Year and the
NWCOA Wildlife Educator/
Researcher Award in 2013.
I have served on the NWCOA
Governing Board since 2010.
From 2010 – 2-13, in addition
to my position as Treasurer,
I, along with the assistance of
my staff, managed the day-today operations of NWCOA
at no cost to NWCOA. I have
served as a member of the
NPMA Wildlife Committee
since 2010. I am co-author of
the Standards for NWCOA
Instructors, the NWCOA Bats
Standards Compliance Course
and co-creator of the first
Annual NWCOA Convention,
and the Wildlife Expo Presented
by NWCOA & NPMA. In
2013, I established the Virginia
Wildlife Damage Management
Association and currently
serve as the President of that
Association. I hold a Certified
Applicator license through
the Virginia Department of
Agriculture and Consumer
Services in categories 7-A
General Pest Control, 7-B Wood
Destroying Pest Control, 7-D
Vertebrate Pest Control, and 5-A
Aquatic Pest Control.
Issue 18: Fall 2015
previous office, participating
in many BOTC and Goose
Academy training courses,
designing and implementing
NWCOA Certification logos,
and building and maintaining
NWCOA’s website, forums and
online web storefront to allow
online purchase of NWCOA
membership, and merchandise.
Charles Parker, Parker
Wildlife Control, Kenner, LA
Running for re-election,
unopposed for the office of
Vice President
Nominee Essay:
I am seeking re-election as
Vice-president to help further
the association in its mission.
I enjoy helping others to grow
their business and seeing them
prosper. Protecting our industry
through education has never
been of more importance and
I look forward to serving the
membership once again.
Vikki Rawe, CWCP®, MNI,
Owner, Tri-State Wildlife
Management, Alexandria, KY
Running for re-election,
unopposed for the office of
Secretary
Nominee Experience:
I have owned and operated a
wildlife control business for
more than 12 years, as well
as created the industry's first
ever “Software as a Service”
web application (NWCOPRO)
to operate a wildlife control
business. I have been a
member and active supporter
of NWCOA since 2003. My
service to NWCOA includes,
serving as Vice-President for 2
years and serving as Secretary
of NWCOA for 2 terms (4
years), standing as a proxy
for other Board members in
Nominee Essay:
I am seeking office to work
towards unity among WCOs
and strongly believe in
promoting professionalism
in the industry since WCOs
are not always viewed as
professionals. As a member of
the education committee, I also
plan to promote education to
all WCOs from the beginner
up to experienced WCOs. I
believe that, as professionals,
we can never stop learning
how to better ourselves. It is
my opinion that I would not
have experienced success in
NWCOA NEWS
7
the business if it were not for
the veteran operators that took
their time and were willing to
share their skills and expertise
with me to use in my operation.
I enjoy working to give what I
can back to the industry.
Nominee Experience:
I am a Certified Wildlife Control
Professional® (CWCP) and a
Master NWCOA instructor of
the National Wildlife Control
Operators Association. In
addition, I serve on the Board
of NWCOA as Secretary and
am the Chair of the Education,
Training and Certification
Committee, and Chair of the Bat
Committee. I currently serve
as an instructor for the Basic
Operators Training Course
and am the Master NWCOA
Instructor for the NWCOA
Goose Academy. I have over 17
years of experience within the
field and am a lifelong member
of the United Trappers of
Kentucky.
continued on page 9
Member Photo
Mike Tucker of Wildlife Removal
Services (Bloomington, MN)
spotted this Jumping Mouse on
the N Shore of Lake Superior
(MN). This fellow came up to the
fire & stayed for a bit. Body size
of a quarter, tail length 3”+, and
giant feet. Never seen one before Woodland Jumping Mouse.
Issue 18: Fall 2015
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continued next page
NWCOA NEWS
8
Issue 18: Fall 2015
2015 NWCOA Governing Board Elections
continued from page 7
Michael Tucker, Wildlife
Removal Services,
Bloomington, MN
Running for re-election,
unopposed for the office of
Treasurer
Nominee Essay:
I am currently seeking reelection as Treasurer of
NWCOA. I have served in
this capacity for the past 2
terms. NWCOA has been
very important to me over the
years, both personally and
professionally. I have been
a NWCOA member since
inception, and feel that we have
made great strides over the
years with very positive industry
representation, exceptional
training opportunities, and
support of our membership at
a national level. Personally, I
would like to see this current
path continue, and feel it is
important to see some continuity
and past experience at the Board
level. For this reason I have
agreed to seek re-election. I
would greatly appreciate your
vote.
NWCOA NEWS
Nominee Experience:
Before serving as Treasurer
for NWCOA, I served as the
NWCOA State Representative
for Minnesota, and as the
NWCOA Region 5 Director.
I have previously served on
the Board of Directors of the
Minnesota Trappers Association
and the Fish & Wildlife
Legislative Alliance. I hold
the NWCOA Certified Wildlife
Control Professional® (CWCP)
and am a Certified NCWOA
Instructor (CNI) for the Basic
Operator Training Course
and am a Certified Trapping
Instructor for the Minnesota
Trappers Association. I am a
member of the Fur Takers of
America and a life member of the
National Trappers Association,
the Minnesota Trappers
Association, and the National
Rifle Association. I have owned
and operated Wildlife Removal
Services in Bloomington, MN
from 1986 to present.
Nominee Essay:
I am very excited to have the
chance to serve the membership
of NWCOA as the General
Organizer. I have a few goals
in mind that I would hope to
accomplish during my tenure on
the Board.
1.Compile a quick start guide
for new operators getting
started to work legally in each
respective state.
2.Promote and engage current
membership through social
media and organized events.
3.Take the frame work for
NWCOA’s Affiliate State
Association program and help
states put that program into
motion.
4.Work to increase membership
through general outreach and
through relationships with
state associations.
Nominee Experience:
Currently own and operate
Wildlife Command Center, a
concept operation I developed
after several failed attempts to
include a Franchise operation.
We operate in several states
as ADC, WCO and PCOs.
Currently I run three companyowned trucks and two leased
trucks.
Personally I am an ADC type
operator, most of the work we
do is general construction to
resolve and prevent animal
entry into a structure. Falconry
Michael Beran, Wildlife
Command Center, Imperial, MO is a passion of mine, as a Master
Running for the open seat of Falconer, I work Falconry
Based Bird Abatement into my
General Organizer
continued on page 10
9
Issue 18: Fall 2015
2015 NWCOA Governing Board Elections
continued from page 9
business plan. Trapping animals
comes with the WCO lifestyle
and I utilize mostly cage traps
but if the circumstances dictate I
have and use kill traps. I do not
trap or harvest fur animals for
the purpose of fur sales.
I joined the US Navy at age
17, was a Nuclear Missile
Technician onboard US
Submarines; worked with the
Marriott in customer services;
worked for Nextel as an Outside
Sales Manager; and served as
Vice President of Grosjean
Construction Services. I started
my first company in 2009, and I
have never been unemployed.
Anthony DeNicola, White
Buffalo, Inc. Moodus, CT
Running for re-election,
unopposed for At Large
Director
Nominee Essay:
I look forward to continuing
to serve NWCOA and helping
shape its future. It has been
a pleasure to contribute to the
NWCOA NEWS
growth and development of
the organization. I enjoy the
camaraderie, the colleagues
I meet, and the opportunity
to help make change in the
discipline where I grew up.
My focus is two-fold. First, I
want to ensure that NWCOA
continues to have a scientific
basis as part of its mission. I
specialize in wildlife damage
management and am serving on
an American Veterinary Medical
Association panel looking at
humane euthanasia in wildlife.
I hope to bring this knowledge
back to the fold. My second
area of focus is prioritizing and
emphasizing the importance
of training for members of
our organization. I want to
keep NWCOA a leader in our
industry and am proud to be
able to contribute.
Nominee Experience:
I am President of White Buffalo,
Inc.; a non-profit research
organization dedicated to
conserving ecosystems through
wildlife population control. I
received a B.S. in Biology from
Trinity College of Hartford,
CT (1988), an M.S. from the
Yale School of Forestry (1990)
and Environmental Studies, a
Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology from
Purdue University (1996), and
have been a NWCO since 1989.
I have coordinated numerous
suburban deer management/
research programs and been
involved with nearly all the
world’s largest ungulate
10
eradication programs. I am a
member of the National Wildlife
Control Operators Association
(and At Large Director
since 2010), the Society for
Conservation Biology, and
The Wildlife Society. I hold
research affiliate positions with
Trinity College, the Denver
Zoological Foundation, and
University of Georgia. My
professional interests are
technical/behavioral/ecological
approaches to wildlife damage
control, wildlife reproductive
control, and control of
introduced vertebrate species.
Jim Goins, Virginia Wildlife
Management, Gloucester
Point, VA
Running for re-election,
unopposed for Eastern
Director
Nominee Essay:
I am currently seeking reelection as Eastern Director
of National Wildlife Control
Operators Association
(NWCOA). I have served 1
continued on page 12
Issue 18: Fall 2015
Sneak Peek Wildlife Expo 2016, January 15 – 17, 2016
The Linq Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, NV
Be sure to make your hotel
reservations by December 23,
2015 to get the discounted rate
of $129! Call 866/523-2781 and
mention “Wildlife Expo 2016”.
You don’t want to miss it!
Opportunities and Challenges
• Striped Skunk Control,
Behavior and Biology –
• On Bats: Biology and Habits
that Dictate Exclusion
Protocol Benefits of Electronic
Trap Monitoring for WCOs
•
Control of Burrowing Animals
NWCOA Certification
• Developing a Respiratory
Programs offered at Wildlife
Protection Program to Protect
Expo 2016
Your Employees and Your
NWCOA Certified Basic Wildlife
Company
Control Operator Training
Course: Thursday – Friday,
Sunday, January 17, 2016
January 14 – 15, 2016, 8:00am –
• Making the Case for Green
5:00pm (both days)
De-contaminants and Full
Remediation
NWCOA Bat Standards
• Exit and Succession Planning:
Compliant Training Course:
What You Need to Know to
Friday, January 15, 8:00am – 3:00pm
Prepare Your Company for the
Next Step
**NWCOA Residential Enclosed • Unique Pest Rodents of the
Space Decontamination
Southwest
Standards Compliant Training
• Non-lethal Bird Control
Course – new for 2016! Monday,
Methods
January 18, 8:00am – 3:00pm
• Warranties and Wildlife
Exclusion
Bird Barrier America, Inc.
• The Feral Cat Trap: An
Certification Training Course:
Introspective Look into the
Feral Cat Controversy
Monday, January 18, 8:00am –
• Adding Pest Control: It is
3:00pm
Worth the Trouble!
• The Exclusion Power Hour
Education Sessions at Expo • Bidding and Selling Large
Projects: Techniques and
Saturday, January 16, 2016
• Human Dimensions of
Wildlife Damage Management
– Challenges, Obligations and
Ethical Considerations
• Evolution to Revolution: Air
Guns - the New Standard in
Wildlife Control
• Taking Advantage of the
Professional Business Tools
Available to Us
• Nuisance Wildlife Control in
the Public and Private Sectors:
NWCOA NEWS
11
Big thank you to
our silver sponsors:
Considerations
**NEW NWCOA Certification
Program in 2016!
The NWCOA Residential
Enclosed Space
Decontamination Standards
Certification will train new
and current WCOs in the
inspection of enclosed spaces
(attics and crawlspaces) and
identification of contaminants.
It will further instruct students
on proper decontamination
methods, as well as remediation
techniques. This course is a one
day, classroom style training
course taught by Certified
NWCOA Instructors. Upon
completion of this course
and successful passing of a
test, the WCO will become
NWCOA Residential Enclosed
Space Decontamination
Standards Compliant. Student
will also receive a certificate
of completion, have use of
the logo mark in marketing
Issue 18: Fall 2015
2015 NWCOA Governing Board Elections
continued from page 10
term. With 25 + years as owner
operator of (Virginia Wildlife
Management) Virginia’s
premier Nuisance Wildlife
Control Company and through
the organization, I have been
afforded the opportunity to
teach segments of the Basic
Operators Training Course as
well as advance my personal
and professional development
with the industry and its
standards with certifications
in Bat Standards Compliant
course and Bird management
exclusion certifications. During
my tenure with NWCOA, I
have witnessed the industry
grow in membership as well as
an organizational foundation at
a national level. It has been a
pleasure to serve in this capacity
alongside some very dedicated
board members and for these
reasons I seek re-election to the
position as Eastern Director.
Nominee Experience:
I have more than 25 years of
experience operating a wildlife
management company. I have
served as a field manager at
Chesapeake Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve
and have studied business and
biology. I served in the United
States Coast Guard and hold
a 100 ton (near shore) Master
Captains License. I am an
advanced open water diver
and scientific diver and am an
active member of the American
Academy of Underwater
NWCOA NEWS
Scientist. I currently serve as
chairman of the Dive Control
Board at the Virginia Institute
of Marine Science, College
of William & Mary and am a
professional faculty member at
the Virginia Institute of Marine
Science.
Stephen M. Vantassel,
Wildlife Control
Consultant, Lewistown, MT
Running for the open seat
of Western Director
Nominee Essay:
I am seeking election to the
NWCOA Governing Board
because I want to continue
the progress the organization
has accomplished over the
past several years. I have
been involved in NWCOA
since the founding meeting
in NJ. Since that time, I have
supported the association in a
variety of capacities including
being a member, newsletter
editor, Certification Committee
member and past chair, and
MNI (BWCO) and CNI (Goose
Academy and Bat Standards).
12
Though our membership in
the west is regrettably low, I
think it is critical that a western
perspective has a place at the
table. The needs and issues of
western WCOs are different than
those in the urbanized east. I
hope to ensure that policies and
practices consider the challenges
facing WCOs of the west.
In addition, I want to continue
to push for maintaining the
high standards that NWCOA
has established and encourage
more states to adopt NWCOA’s
training. For the reasons stated
above, I would ask for the vote
of NWCOA members in the
western U.S.
Nominee Experience:
Since May of 2015, I have
worked as a Vertebrate Pest
Specialist for the Montana
Department of Agriculture. Prior
to my current position, I served
as the Program CoordinatorNebraska One Health at the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
My responsibilities included
networking researchers,
government officials, and
interest groups to improve
communication on responding to
disease threats affecting wildlife,
domesticated animals, and
humans. For most of my career
at UNL-Lincoln I worked as the
Program Coordinator-Wildlife
Damage Management where
I converted research-based
Issue 18: Fall 2015
information on wildlife damage
management into actionable
information for public
consumption and disseminated
this information through writing,
internet, lectures, courses,
conferences, and workshops.
As a Master NWCOA Instructor
(MNI) and Certified NWCOA
Instructor (CNI), I have
conducted various training for
NWCOA for many years. I have
held the NWCOA Certified
Wildlife Control Professional®
(CWCP) designation since
2001. I hold a Nebraska Wildlife
Control License, a Nebraska
Certified Pesticide Applicator
in Wildlife and Structural
categories and a Montana
Pesticide License in Structural,
Agricultural Vertebrate, and
M-44 (sodium cyanide). I have
also achieved a master rating
at the Trapper’s College by
Fur Takers of America. I have
authored several books, articles
and resource materials for the
wildlife control industry.
Jordan Budenski, Bud’s
Nuisance Wildlife Removal,
LLC
I have chaired the Supplier
Relations committee, and
have presented at the Wildlife
Expo for that past two years on
exclusion
Nominee Experience:
I am an Iraq Navy Special
Forces veteran. Since leaving
the Armed Forces, I have been
successfully running a full time
wildlife control company with a
full time and part time employee
for 7 years.
Running for re-election,
unopposed for Central
Director
Nominee Essay:
I have enjoyed serving my two
year term as Central Director
and I am seeking re-election. I
enjoy serving on the NWCOA
Governing Board and providing
direct support in the forward
movement of the Association.
Share Your Photos
Strange catches, WCOs
working, safety tips, wildlife
damage. Send to newsletter@
nwcoa.com
General Organizer’s Report
continued from the cover
Company. Having the “Sisters”
(Andrea and Kristin) involved
with NWCOA has elevated
our standing with not only
other nonprofit associations
but governmental agencies as
well. Under their management
NWCOA has increased
membership, become more
streamlined and fully compliant
with nonprofit requirements and
a lot more. Kudos, ladies, you
make us all look good.
• Rewrite and streamlining
NWCOA NEWS
of bylaws, implementation of
compliant voting program and
a lot more than the space in the
newsletter allows.
I encourage all members
to become more involved
with NWCOA. Becoming
involved is another investment
in yourself and business that
pays huge dividends. Take the
time to share your successes
as well as your “review of
previous attempts” with the
newsletter. Taking newsletter to
13
a bi-monthly or quarterly semiglossy membership benefit is
incumbent on content.
Lastly I would like to take
the opportunity to thank the
membership for allowing me to
serve as General Organizer for
the past few years. I am truly
humbled by the support. Please
continue to lend that support to
Michael Beran as he goes forth as
General Organizer.
Now I can try to keep up with
this guy….
Issue 18: Fall 2015
NWCOA Professional Achievement Awards
2015 Official Nomination Form
The NWCOA Professional Achievement Awards recognize outstanding individuals each
year in our industry, in the following categories, please select one for this nomination:
NWCOA Professional of the Year
For overall outstanding efforts and achievements on
behalf of the industry; or The most significant contribution to the cause of the wildlife damage industry; or The
most significant contribution toward the solution of a
major wildlife damage problem during 2014. This effort
can be in any field of wildlife damage management.
NWCOA Wildlife Damage Educator/Reseacher of the Year
For the outstanding wildlife damage education / research effort by an individual or organization. The
recipient of this award should have applied and demonstrated wildlife damage management methods to the
betterment or effectiveness of the industry; or Conducted research to support industry positions, standards,
policies, practices or techniques.
NWCOA Volunteer of the Year
For overall outstanding efforts and achievements
on behalf of the NWCOA by providing the most significant volunteer contributions to NWCOA through
mentoring, public participation, public education, assistance, industry training or guidance to the industry.
NWCOA Wildlife Industry Vendor/Innovator of the Year
For outstanding effort by any firm, business, or individual that has displayed an unwavering commitment
to the wildlife damage management industry through
service, integrity, innovation, or other business practices that have enhanced or improved the industry’s
ability to serve the public.
Nominations Instructions
To make a nomination, send this form (email submissions preferred) and supporting documents to: [email protected] or NWCOA Awards Committee, PO Box 655, Fredericksburg, VA 22404
Deadline for receiving applications is December 1, 2015
1. Fill out Official Nomination Form completely. Incomplete nomination forms will not be considered.
Select the category* for which you are nominating this individual.
2. Attach a list of achievements or nomination essay, explaining why the nominee deserves the
award. Attach nominee’s resume (if available) and information about the nominee’s affiliations, past
recognitions, and other references for substantiation. Full documentation is required by the Awards
Committee -- the only information the Awards Committee will have is what you provide. Please be
particular about the specific reasons for which the nomination is based.
3. Nominees may be nominated for more than one category, but require a separate nomination
form for each category. Multiple copies of supporting materials are not necessary.
Nominee
Address
Phone
Nominated by
Address
Phone
City, St, Zip
E-mail
City, St, Zip
E-mail
* The Awards Committee reserves the right to place nominations in the appropriate categories. In the case of insufficient nominations in any category, the Awards Committee reserves the right not to name a category winner.
NWCOA NEWS
14
Issue 18: Fall 2015
Wildlife Control in the News
New Publication on Bat Management
“Acceptable Management Practices for Bat Control Activities in
Structures - A Guide for Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators” The purpose
of this document is to provide consistent Acceptable Management Practices
(AMPs) for nuisance wildlife control operators (NWCOs) to reduce impacts on bats during bat control
or removal activities in structures. These guidelines were developed in concert among NWCOs,
state and federal agencies, private conservation organizations, and the Centers for Disease Control in
response to recent catastrophic population declines and changes to the protection status of many bat
species due to white-nose syndrome. These AMPs are recommended for use with all structure-dwelling
bat species, regardless of their conservation status. The paper was developed by the White-Nose
Syndrome Conservation and Recovery Working Group of which a NWCOA representative has played
a part. The publication is a product of the White-Nose Syndrome National Plan.
WCOs should note that NWCOA’s bat management practices are specifically mentioned on page 7.
https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/sites/default/files/resource/wns_nwco_amp_1_april_2015_0.pdf
New Product Announcement
Catching Birds in Stores - a
new tool by Bird Barrier
Sparrows in a facility are messy
and difficult to catch. The Trap
Door makes it easy. Sparrows
hear the friendly chirp from the
proprietary audio attractor, see
the food, step on the perch, and
fall inside unharmed. The trap
contains the bird waste, bait etc.
It is a hygienic way to contain
the birds until they can be
removed from the building.
Place traps where birds are
anticipated, and catch them
when they first enter. The audio
can be programmed to work
with any schedule.
See the Trap Door catching
Sparrows at www.birdbarrier.
com/videos
NWCOA Values Our Vendor Members
Anabec, Inc.
New Frequency, Inc.
Arkion Life Sciences
Nixalite of America, Inc.
Bird Barrier®America, Inc.
NwcoPro.com
Christian Baker Co.
Pest Control Insulation Systems
HY-C Company
Tomahawk Live Trap, LLC
see ad on pg 5
see ad on pg 8
JA Media, LLC
Wildlife Control Supplies, LLC
see ad on pg 16
KRC Industries
Wildlife Management Supplies
NWCOA NEWS
15
Issue 18: Fall 2015
To access WCS rewards, visit
NWCOA.com/WCS_Rewards.html
NWCOA NEWS
16
Issue 18: Fall 2015