Perspectives on Wildlife Nuisance Control: Results of a Wildlife Damage Control Firm's Customer Survey

• Main Authors: Braband, Lynn A., Clark, Kevin D.
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: DigitalCommons@USU 1991
• Subjects: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Life Sciences; Branta canadensis
• Online Access: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/wdmconference/1991/all1991/9; https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1623&context=wdmconference

Customers of Critter Control, Inc. offices were surveyed in 1990 and 1991 to examine their views and experiences with nuisance wildlife. Most of the survey respondents were having problems with raccoons (Procyon lotor), squirrels (Sciurus spp.), skunks (Mephitis mephitis), woodchucks (Marmata monax), and moles (Talpidae). Approximately 25% of the respondents attempted to control the nuisance situation themselves before contacting Critter Control. Most customers approved of the lethal control of rats/mice (Muridae), moles, snakes, bats (Chiroptera), pigeons (Columba livia), and skunks. Most disapproved of the lethal control of deer (Odocoileus spp.), geese (Branta canadensis), woodpeckers (Picoides spp.), squirrels, and raccoons. Eighty-eight percent of the respondents described the humane treatment of nuisance animals as either "very" or "moderately" important to them. The survey results are incorporated into a discussion of attitudes towards wildlife in nuisance situations, and how these attitudes affect the control of such problems.