NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Bat and Bird Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum recommended exclusion period after installing one-way bat valves before permanently sealing entry points?
- 24 hours
- 3-5 days
- 7-14 days (Correct answer)
- 30 days
Correct answer: 7-14 days
A 7-14 day exclusion period ensures all bats, including those temporarily away from the roost, have exited through the one-way devices.
One-way exclusion devices allow bats to exit but not re-enter. A minimum of 7-14 days is recommended before permanent sealing because individual bats may be temporarily absent. Sealing too soon risks trapping absent bats. After the exclusion period, operators should monitor exit points at dusk for several evenings to confirm no bats remain.
Question 2: Which federal agency issues depredation permits for controlling protected migratory birds?
- Environmental Protection Agency
- US Fish and Wildlife Service (Correct answer)
- Department of Agriculture
- Federal Aviation Administration
Correct answer: US Fish and Wildlife Service
The US Fish and Wildlife Service administers the MBTA and issues depredation permits for lethal control of protected bird species.
The USFWS administers and enforces the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. When migratory birds cause significant damage, NWCO operators must obtain a Migratory Bird Depredation Permit from USFWS before lethal control. The USDA Wildlife Services program assists with wildlife damage management but does not issue MBTA permits. State agencies may have additional requirements.
Question 3: What is the most effective long-term solution for preventing cliff swallows from building mud nests under eaves?
- Applying sticky repellent gel
- Installing physical bird netting before nesting season (Correct answer)
- Spraying the area with water daily
- Painting the eaves a bright color
Correct answer: Installing physical bird netting before nesting season
Bird netting installed before nesting season creates a permanent barrier preventing cliff swallows from accessing the nesting surface.
Bird netting (3/4-inch mesh) installed flush against the surface before nesting season is the most effective long-term exclusion method. Sticky gels are temporary and can trap small birds. Water spraying is labor-intensive. Active nests with eggs or young are protected under the MBTA and cannot be removed without a permit.
Question 4: Which disease from bird droppings poses the greatest respiratory health risk when cleaning a large pigeon roost?
- Avian influenza
- Histoplasmosis (Correct answer)
- West Nile virus
- Salmonellosis
Correct answer: Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis, caused by Histoplasma capsulatum that grows in bird droppings, poses the greatest respiratory risk when dried droppings are disturbed.
Histoplasma capsulatum thrives in nitrogen-rich bird droppings. When dried droppings are disturbed, fungal spores become airborne and cause histoplasmosis when inhaled. NWCO operators must use HEPA-filtered respirators when cleaning bird roosts. Wetting droppings before removal reduces airborne spore dispersal. Salmonellosis is primarily fecal-oral, and West Nile is mosquito-borne.
Question 5: When conducting a bat inspection, what time provides the BEST opportunity to count bats and locate exit points?
- Early morning (6-8 AM)
- Midday (12-2 PM)
- Dusk (30 minutes before to 60 minutes after sunset) (Correct answer)
- Late night (11 PM - 1 AM)
Correct answer: Dusk (30 minutes before to 60 minutes after sunset)
Dusk emergence counts allow operators to count exiting bats and identify primary exit points as bats leave their roost.
Bat emergence counts are the standard survey technique. Observers position themselves where they can see building edges silhouetted against the evening sky, beginning 30 minutes before sunset. Bats typically begin emerging shortly after sunset and the main exodus lasts 15-45 minutes. Multiple observers may be needed for large buildings.
Question 6: What is the primary reason woodpeckers drum on metal surfaces such as gutters and chimney caps?
- Searching for insects inside the metal
- Territorial signaling and mate attraction through amplified sound (Correct answer)
- Attempting to create a nesting cavity
- Sharpening their beaks
Correct answer: Territorial signaling and mate attraction through amplified sound
Woodpeckers drum on resonant metal surfaces to amplify their territorial and mate-attraction signals.
Woodpecker drumming on metal is communication behavior, not foraging or nesting. Metal surfaces amplify the drumming sound, making it carry farther for territory and mate advertisement. This is most common during breeding season. Solutions include visual deterrents, padding the surface, or providing alternative substrates. Woodpeckers drilling into wood siding are either foraging or creating nesting cavities, requiring different management.
NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Bat and Bird Management 2
What is the minimum recommended exclusion period after installing one-way bat valves before permanently sealing entry points?