Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Common Mammal Control 1 Flashcards

What device is most commonly used to manage nuisance beaver flooding while allowing the beaver to remain on-site?

Answer: Water-flow control pipe installed through the dam

Water-flow control devices such as Beaver Deceivers or Clemson Pond Levelers pipe water through or around the dam, lowering the pond to a non-damaging level without removing the animal — a cost-effective, non-lethal long-term solution.

Which field sign most reliably distinguishes meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) surface damage from Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) tunnel damage in a lawn?

Answer: Visible surface runways with clipped grass blades and droppings along the path

Voles create visible surface runways littered with clipped vegetation and fecal pellets; moles produce raised subsurface ridges and volcano-shaped mounds but do not leave surface runways with clipped grass.

An opossum in a live trap is lying motionless, eyes partially open, tongue extended, and unresponsive to prodding. What is the correct operator response?

Answer: Leave the trap covered and undisturbed; the animal will recover within minutes to a few hours

Thanatosis ('playing dead') in opossums is an involuntary physiological response, not a sign of injury or disease. Keeping the trap covered reduces stimulation and the animal self-recovers without any intervention.

What is the primary regulatory and biological concern with relocating a live-trapped coyote to a new area?

Answer: Relocation may violate state law, spread disease such as mange or distemper, and create new territorial conflicts with resident coyotes

Most states prohibit or strictly regulate coyote relocation. Beyond legal issues, relocated individuals frequently die from territorial aggression, and the practice risks spreading sarcoptic mange, distemper, and other pathogens to new areas.

What is the most effective long-term method to prevent a groundhog (woodchuck) from burrowing under a shed or deck foundation?

Answer: Bury hardware cloth at least 12 inches deep with the bottom bent outward at a 90-degree angle

An L-shaped hardware cloth barrier buried underground physically prevents burrowing; the outward-angled foot discourages digging at the base of the barrier, making it effective year-round without repeated maintenance.

When transporting a live-trapped striped skunk, which technique is most effective at preventing the animal from discharging its scent glands?

Answer: Drape a cloth or tarp completely over the trap before and during transport to block visual stimuli

Skunks rely heavily on visual cues to trigger their spray defense. A full cover eliminates the visual threat stimulus, keeping the animal calm; rapid movement or water misting increases stress and the likelihood of discharge.