National Wildlife Control Training for Master Gardeners and Homeowners

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflicts are increasing in urban areas and in particular they create problems for homeowners, backyard gardeners, and suburban farmers. Government wildlife agencies at every level, as well as programs run by NGOs, Cooperative Extension, and IPM, field questions about how to deal with nuisance wildlife. Effective wildlife damage management requires an understanding of wildlife biology, IPM methods, and research-based animal handling and control techniques. The National Wildlife Control Training Program (NWCTP) was created to address the need for professional training, coordinate a uniform training program across states, and to create national standards for nuisance wildlife control and wildlife damage management. Many of the wildlife problems occur in yards and gardens, and can be addressed by the Master Gardener volunteer workforce using IPM methods. This audience needed a user-friendly version of the professional training program, while maintaining high standards of humane pest control.