NWCO Risk Assessment and Site Inspection Protocols 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When assessing a site for potential wildlife entry points, a NWCO should inspect which areas MOST carefully?
- Interior walls only
- Roof edges, vents, soffits, fascia boards, and foundation gaps (Correct answer)
- Only areas where damage is visible from the ground
- The front door and windows
Correct answer: Roof edges, vents, soffits, fascia boards, and foundation gaps
Wildlife most commonly enter structures through roof-level openings such as damaged soffits, gable vents, and gaps at fascia boards, as well as through foundation-level openings.
Question 2: A NWCO identifies multiple potential entry points on a property. What is the recommended approach?
- Seal all entry points immediately before trapping
- Seal secondary entry points while leaving the primary entry open until animals are removed (Correct answer)
- Leave all entry points open until all animals are gone, then seal everything at once
- Only seal points that were explicitly requested by the client
Correct answer: Seal secondary entry points while leaving the primary entry open until animals are removed
Secondary entry points should be sealed first to funnel animals through the primary entry, making removal more efficient and preventing animals from creating new openings.
Question 3: Which of the following signs would indicate a CURRENT (active) wildlife infestation rather than an old one?
- Dry, crumbled droppings and dusty entry points
- Fresh droppings, new gnawing, and fresh tracks or smear marks (Correct answer)
- Cobwebs over a suspected entry point
- Nesting material that appears sun-bleached and brittle
Correct answer: Fresh droppings, new gnawing, and fresh tracks or smear marks
Fresh droppings (moist, odorous), new gnaw marks with bright wood exposed, and active smear marks indicate current and ongoing wildlife activity.
Question 4: During a risk assessment, a NWCO discovers a snake den near a home's foundation. What is the FIRST risk to evaluate?
- The aesthetic impact on property value
- Whether the snakes are venomous and the proximity to high-traffic human areas (Correct answer)
- How many snakes are present for pricing purposes
- Whether the neighbor is aware of the den
Correct answer: Whether the snakes are venomous and the proximity to high-traffic human areas
The immediate safety risk—whether the species is venomous and how close the den is to people, pets, or children's play areas—must be determined before any other assessment.
Question 5: A homeowner reports scratching sounds in the walls at night but no visible entry points on the exterior. What should a NWCO do?
- Tell the client the problem is not wildlife-related
- Perform a thorough interior inspection including the attic, basement, and crawl space (Correct answer)
- Set snap traps inside the home without further inspection
- Recommend calling an exterminator instead
Correct answer: Perform a thorough interior inspection including the attic, basement, and crawl space
Nocturnal sounds in walls with no visible exterior entry require a comprehensive interior inspection to locate hidden access points, nesting areas, and confirm species identity.
Question 6: What does 'population pressure' mean in the context of a wildlife risk assessment?
- The weight of animals on a structure
- High local wildlife numbers that increase the likelihood of ongoing or repeated intrusions (Correct answer)
- The speed at which a species reproduces in captivity
- Pressure applied by animal rights groups
Correct answer: High local wildlife numbers that increase the likelihood of ongoing or repeated intrusions
High local population density of a nuisance species means that even after removal, new animals may quickly colonize the site if exclusion is not completed.
Question 7: A NWCO assesses a commercial poultry farm for predator intrusions. Which factor should receive the HIGHEST priority in the risk assessment?
- The aesthetic condition of the farm buildings
- Gaps or weaknesses in the perimeter fencing and housing structures that allow predator entry (Correct answer)
- The proximity of the farm to urban areas
- The number of employees on site
Correct answer: Gaps or weaknesses in the perimeter fencing and housing structures that allow predator entry
Perimeter and housing integrity are the critical risk factors at poultry operations because structural gaps directly enable predator access to livestock.
NWCO Risk Assessment and Site Inspection Protocols 2
When assessing a site for potential wildlife entry points, a NWCO should inspect which areas MOST carefully?