NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Bat and Bird Management 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?

Accepted Answer

The client must be advised to wait until the end of the maternity season, typically late summer, before an exclusion is performed.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Bird spikes.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

A bat valve or one-way door.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Excavating a cavity for nesting or roosting.

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Histoplasmosis.

Answer

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.

NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Practice Test

NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Practice Test

NWCO - Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Bat and Bird Management Questions and Answers