NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Bat and Bird Management Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A homeowner in a midwestern state calls in early June about a large colony of little brown bats in their attic and wants them removed immediately. What is the most appropriate and legally sound advice the NWCO should provide?
- A registered fumigant should be used to quickly eliminate the colony before it grows.
- An exclusion can begin immediately by sealing all entry points except one, where a one-way door will be placed.
- The client must be advised to wait until the end of the maternity season, typically late summer, before an exclusion is performed. (Correct answer)
- The primary entry point should be sealed at night while the entire colony is out foraging for insects.
Correct answer: The client must be advised to wait until the end of the maternity season, typically late summer, before an exclusion is performed.
Early June is the middle of the maternity season for most North American bat species. Performing an exclusion at this time would trap the non-flying pups inside the attic, leading to their death, which is inhumane and often illegal. The correct and professional standard is to wait until the young are able to fly (typically late August or September) before installing one-way devices to exclude the entire colony.
Question 2: Which of the following physical deterrents is specifically designed and most effective for preventing large birds like pigeons and gulls from landing and roosting on long, flat surfaces such as building ledges, parapets, and signs?
- Ultrasonic repellers that emit high-frequency sounds.
- Bird spikes. (Correct answer)
- Reflective scare tape.
- Aromatic gels that produce a scent birds dislike.
Correct answer: Bird spikes.
Bird spikes are a physical barrier consisting of needle-like rods that make it physically impossible or at least highly uncomfortable for larger birds to land on a surface. They are a standard and highly effective solution for preventing roosting on ledges and similar flat areas.
Question 3: When performing a bat exclusion, a NWCO installs a device over the primary exit point that allows bats to leave the structure but prevents them from re-entering. Which of the following is a common term for this type of device?
- A bat valve or one-way door. (Correct answer)
- A repeater trap.
- A positive-set body-gripper.
- A funnel snare.
Correct answer: A bat valve or one-way door.
A bat valve, one-way door, or exclusion tube is specifically designed for bat removal. It creates a passage that bats can easily exit through but cannot navigate to re-enter the structure. This allows for the humane eviction of the entire colony without handling the animals.
Question 4: A client reports a woodpecker is creating numerous large, deep, and relatively round holes in the cedar siding of their home during the spring. This specific type of damage is most likely associated with what behavior?
- Drumming to attract a mate or declare territory.
- Foraging for insects located just beneath the wood surface.
- Sharpening its beak on the siding.
- Excavating a cavity for nesting or roosting. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Excavating a cavity for nesting or roosting.
While woodpeckers create small, shallow holes when foraging and rapidly tap resonant surfaces for drumming, the excavation of large, deep cavities during the spring is characteristic of an attempt to create a nest or roosting site.
Question 5: A NWCO is hired to clean a large, dry accumulation of bat guano from an attic. Proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including a respirator, is critical to prevent the inhalation of fungal spores that cause which specific respiratory disease?
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.
- Rabies.
- Histoplasmosis. (Correct answer)
- Leptospirosis.
Correct answer: Histoplasmosis.
Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in the spores of the fungus *Histoplasma capsulatum*. This fungus thrives in soil and material contaminated with large amounts of bird or bat droppings. Disturbing these accumulations, especially in a dry, enclosed space like an attic, can release the spores into the air.
Question 6: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) provides broad federal protection for most native bird species in the United States. Which of the following groups of birds are famously NOT protected by this act because they are non-native, introduced species?
- Woodpeckers, flickers, and sapsuckers.
- Rock pigeons, European starlings, and house sparrows. (Correct answer)
- Ducks, geese, and swans.
- Swallows, swifts, and martins.
Correct answer: Rock pigeons, European starlings, and house sparrows.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was established to protect native migratory birds. The rock pigeon (Columba livia), European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), and house sparrow (Passer domesticus) were all introduced to North America from other continents and are legally classified as non-native, invasive species, exempting them from MBTA protection.
NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Bat and Bird Management Questions and Answers
A homeowner in a midwestern state calls in early June about a large colony of little brown bats in their attic and wants them removed immediately.
What is the most appropriate and legally sound advice the NWCO should provide?