Natural Resources, School of
Date of this Version
1982
Abstract
Vertebrate pest control deals with wild animals that create health hazards, damage resources, or become a general nuisance. Some people prefer the terms "wildlife damage control" or "animal damage control" because they focus on controlling damage rather than controlling animals. This is an important principle. Vertebrate animals that cause damage often have many positive values. In dealing with these situations our objective should always be to reduce or prevent damage; this does not necessarily require the killing of animals. I use the term "vertebrate pest control" because I believe it is less ambiguous than "damage control." When I call an animal a "pest," I do so realizing this is a subjective term, and another person may have a different opinion.
Comments
Published in TRANSACTIONS OF THE FORTY-SEVENTH NORTH AMERICAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCES CONFERENCE, ed. Kenneth Sabol (Washington, DC, 1982).