CACO Wildlife Management and Ordinances 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of wildlife trap is considered the most humane for live capture and relocation of small mammals like opossums or skunks?
- Leg-hold trap
- Body-gripping conibear trap
- Box or cage live trap (Correct answer)
- Snare loop trap
Correct answer: Box or cage live trap
Box or cage live traps capture animals without injury, allowing for safe handling and relocation without harming the animal.
Question 2: When an ACO must relocate a trapped wild animal, what is the primary legal and ethical concern regarding relocation distance?
- Animals must be relocated at least 100 miles away
- Relocation must occur within the same county only
- Relocation should prevent the animal from returning and avoid introducing disease to new populations (Correct answer)
- Animals should only be relocated to wildlife refuges
Correct answer: Relocation should prevent the animal from returning and avoid introducing disease to new populations
Improper relocation can spread disease between wildlife populations and is often ineffective if the animal returns, so distance and destination must be carefully considered.
Question 3: An officer finds a juvenile wild animal (fawn, fledgling bird) that appears alone. What is the best initial action?
- Immediately bring it to the animal shelter
- Leave it undisturbed and monitor from a distance to determine if the mother returns (Correct answer)
- Attempt to hand-feed it
- Euthanize it to prevent suffering
Correct answer: Leave it undisturbed and monitor from a distance to determine if the mother returns
Many juvenile wild animals are left alone temporarily by their mothers and are not truly orphaned; removing them prematurely can cause unnecessary harm.
Question 4: Which state agency is the primary authority an ACO should contact when dealing with injured or orphaned protected wildlife species?
- State Department of Transportation
- State Fish and Wildlife or Natural Resources agency (Correct answer)
- State Department of Agriculture
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service field office
Correct answer: State Fish and Wildlife or Natural Resources agency
State Fish and Wildlife or Natural Resources agencies hold primary jurisdiction over native wildlife and can authorize handling, rehabilitation, or euthanasia.
Question 5: A resident reports a bat found inside their home. What is the FIRST public health step an ACO should take?
- Release the bat outside immediately
- Capture the bat safely and determine if human exposure to rabies occurred (Correct answer)
- Euthanize the bat immediately without testing
- Call pest control to handle it
Correct answer: Capture the bat safely and determine if human exposure to rabies occurred
Bats are a primary rabies vector, so any bat found indoors requires rabies exposure assessment before any disposition decision is made.
Question 6: What is 'feeding wildlife ordinances' designed to prevent in most US municipalities?
- Preventing starvation of urban wildlife populations
- Reducing human-wildlife conflict by discouraging animals from habituation to human food sources (Correct answer)
- Ensuring wildlife receives balanced nutrition
- Protecting homeowners from liability when feeding deer
Correct answer: Reducing human-wildlife conflict by discouraging animals from habituation to human food sources
Wildlife feeding ordinances reduce human-wildlife conflicts because animals fed by humans lose their fear of people and become nuisance or dangerous animals.
CACO Wildlife Management and Ordinances 2
Which type of wildlife trap is considered the most humane for live capture and relocation of small mammals like opossums or skunks?