West Virginia Category 8A - General Pest Control Recertification Bundle - Vertebrate

This package expires on December 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern, 10:59 PM Central, 9:59 PM Mountain, 8:59 PM Pacific. You must complete the courses and download your certificate(s) before the expiration date to receive credit. After12/31, you will no longer have access to this package, so please complete the course(s) and download your certificate(s) by then.

This course bundle is designed General Pest Control Commercial Applicator. The course bundle contains 20 credits of category 8A (General Pest Control) credits as approved by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.

BUNDLE CONTENTS:

Inspecting Structures for Wildlife – 4 credits
Bat Damage Management – 2 credits
Mice: The Ubiquitous Commensal Rodent – 3 credits
Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pest Management – 4 credits
Skunks: $mell the $uccess – 3 credits
Understanding Rodenticides & Their Labels – 2 credits
Euthanasia & Carcass Disposal: Methods & Pitfalls – 2 credits

Inspecting Structures for Wildlife

Course Description

If you do not diagnose the problem correctly you will spend a lot of time treating something that is not there. Identify correctly and gather evidence and determine the extent of potential problems. This course will cover the basics of what to look for while inspecting a structure that has potentially been invaded by wildlife.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Discuss the different health risks associated with routine wildlife inspections.
Identify common wildlife pests and their sign.
Describe the differences between domiciled and transient wildlife damage.

Bat Damage Management

Course Description

The site of a bat hanging around a structure can be unnerving to most clients. Finding one inside a home is even more unsettling and can send the homeowner into a panic. This course will talk about the identification of bat issues, fundamentals of bat control, and a few health issues that can be quite costly for wildlife control operators and clients.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Effectively pre-qualify a client to determine the potential presence of bats.
Outline to the client the necessity to capture the bat alive.
Describe the common signs found when bats are present.
Describe the common diseases and ectoparasites associated with bats.

Mice: The Ubiquitous Commensal Rodent

Course Description

One of the challenges with house mice is that clients don’t take house mice seriously. It’s amazing how people will move heaven and earth when rats are around, but when it comes to mice they will simply say “oh, it’s just a mouse!” This course will help educate applicators on the risks of allowing house mice to remain in a structure.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Identify preferred habitats of mice
Describe several IPM methods for controlling mice
Describe the differences in mouse traps and outline which trap is best in a given situation
Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using rodenticides

Rodents and Other Vertebrate Pest Management

Course Description

An animal with a backbone or spinal column is called a vertebrate. A few vertebrates, such as rats and mice, are common pests in urban and industrial areas. Others are not pests in their normal habitats but may occasionally become pests when they conflict with humans. Public concern for the welfare of animals and the risk to people, pets, and other non-targets from poisons used to kill vertebrates have made rules governing vertebrate pest control particularly strict. Laws and regulations at the state and local levels may be much more restrictive than federal regulations. Be sure you understand all the regulations that apply in your geographic area before attempting to control vertebrate pests.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Describe the lifecycle, inspection process, and health concerns commonly associated with vertebrate pests
Distinguish the different types of lethal and non-lethal options for managing vertebrate pests
Describe the various types of traps and baits used to control vertebrate pests

Skunks: $mell the $uccess

Course Description

Skunks used to be considered a very valuable animal, probably because they weren’t called skunks. They were called “Alaska Sable” or “Black Marten.” But when the Supreme Court insisted there be truth in advertising the demand for Alaska Sable plummeted. The desire to have a skunk residing on a client’s property doesn’t seem to have improved either. This course will discuss the lifecycle and biology of skunks, habitat modification to discourage skunks from taking up residence, trapping tips and techniques, the basics of rodenticide use, and the basics of euthanizing if allowable by law. It is important to be familiar with state and local laws regarding skunk management.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Describe common skunk behavior, habitat, and diet.
Discuss the different methods and sets for efficient trapping of skunks.
Describe the various methods of euthanizing.

Understanding Rodenticides & Their Labels

Course Description

Rodenticides are becoming a widely discussed and concerning topic in the pest control field. There is a growing public concern at the risk of secondary and non-target poisonings when rodenticides are used. As a pest control operator is it your responsibility to understand how rodenticides work and how to read their labels. This course discusses the common types of rodenticides, their appropriate application, the risks involved with the use of each type of rodenticide, and takes a look at specific label language.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Outline and describe the primary classifications of rodenticides
Describe the differences in toxicity and risk between first-generation and second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides
Describe how to use appropriate baiting techniques and the importance of carcass removal

Euthanasia & Carcass Disposal: Methods & Pitfalls

Course Description

This topic, while not often talked about, is something that everyone in wildlife control has to deal with. It is one of those unmentionables, but we need to talk about it in detail because it’s something you’re going to need to encounter if you’re going to be a full-fledged wildlife control operator. This course will cover methods for euthanizing animals, ways to dispose of the deceased animal, and pitfalls to avoid to maintain public relations and appearance.

After completing this course participants will be able to:

Define humane dispatch.
Discuss options available for euthanizing an animal.
Describe the various types of lethal sets available and when best to use each one.