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