I get asked all the time what our industry is called. Some people say pest control, I say kinda, just not for bugs. I have always called what I do Animal Damage Control(ADC). And it is usually followed up with an explanation that I fix what animals wreck, and stop them from wrecking it again. I see other acronyms out there, some of which turn my stomach because they look so much like the national club acronym. Then there is Wildlife Control Operator(WCO) I've never used it to describe my job, but I guess it could, I'm just so used to ADC, that I'm stuck on it. I was staring through my windshield today for 3-4 hours and got to thinking, What do you guys call your function out there in your part of the world>

wildlife control, prevention, repair

NEWCO is the term I use though it really doesn't matter as I have to explain it all anyway. Here in Georgia we are NWCOs so that is what I use even though I despise the idea of calling wildlife a nuisance since the animal doesn't intentionally set out to do so, they're just trying to make a living like the rest of us. I often catch myself doing a shorthand when asked just saying I do nuisance wildlife. To me Wildlife Control sounds much better though a WCO would be a WACKO.
Never have warmed up to ADC or Animal Damage Control as in my mind that's a sheepherder's best friend.

Wildlife Pest Control

Need to get just one name so we don't need double listings

Can any of you website guys imagine us all fighting for placement of ONE key word?

Wildlife control followed by "HUH ??" or "you work for the DNR" sometimes its easier to say garbage man rather than explain it over an over.

Sometimes I think Im a truck driver

The guy that gets rid of the problem nothing more that's it . I uses that one when they starting asking . Never seen anybody that dint understand that one

I shortened it when I answer the phone. Imagine answering the phone "Predators and Prey Animal Damage Control". I would get the HUH like river rat said. So now I just say "Wildlife Control". Less huh's now

Still refer to what I do as ADC

Nuisance Wildlife Removal

Wildlife damage control.

The name of our occupation seems to vary based on who is discussing it.

In the general public's eye we are performing pest control. When they need an animal dealt with, unless they've been trained otherwise, they search for pest control companies for a solution. Of course, it doesn't help that the definition of pest in most states includes "any animal or insect that is causing damage or could cause damage".

In academia, this occupation is mainly referred to as wildlife management or wildlife damage management based on what is occurring. The definitions used by Michael Conover in his book Resolving Human-Wildlife Conflicts, The Science of Wildlife Damage Management are “Wildlife management can be defined as the act of influencing or modifying the wildlife resource to meet human needs, desires, or goals. Anything that a wildlife species does that causes human injuries or illnesses, economic productivity loss, physical damage, or a reduction in a person's quality of life or well-being would be considered wildlife damage."

In most states that have programs and regulations, our field is referred to as nuisance wildlife control.

In federal regulations, our field isn't really mentioned but the act that gives authority for Wildlife Services, the Animal Damage Control Act of 1931, has lead to the catch phrase of ADC or animal damage control.

In the pest control industry, our activities are generally referred to as wildlife control or wildlife management.

Personally, I break it down to where the activities are being performed. If you are working primarily in an urban area you are performing wildlife control activities. If you are working primarily in a suburban area you are performing wildlife damage management. If you are working primarily in a rural environment then you are performing animal damage control.

I like these differences since based on location you have certain options available that are not available at other locations. When performing ADC, it is mainly in agricultural or low population densities so lethal control as a capture tool can be frequently used to achieve results. Your focus is to stop the damage by removing the problem animals as quickly as possible. That's it, no repairs no habitat modification just removal.

When working in a suburban area, you may have lethal control abilities; however, you also have more restrictions on how you can use lethal control. Here, you can use the broadest range of techniques and equipment to solve the problem. It may be anything from providing alternative roosts and/or food to animal removal through lethal control to capture and structure repairs. So based on the clients needs, animal conflict, and your abilities you can provide different solutions to resolve the conflict. When you have a range of options to choose from it is more of a management scenario, hence wildlife damage management.

Yet when working in an urban environment, most areas severely restrict what activities you can do to resolve the issue. Trap specifications, repellants, and very limited lethal capture techniques creates more of a control response. In other words, you can't really stop the animal or provide them alternatives. All you can do is stop them usually by cage trap removal or exclusion and offer repairs for any damage created.

I'm a licensed Wildlife Control Operator so I call what I do Wildlife Control.

I never really liked the term Animal Damage Control because it's not specific enough.

I'm not gonna go out and catch a stray dog that is wandering around the neighborhood. By the same token, I'm not gonna go out and pick up you neighbors cat because they can't keep it home. Horses, pigs, chickens, cats, dogs and Guinea pigs ain't in my line of work. And, yes! I have actually had some of these calls.

But I am a state certified Wildlife Damage Control Agent or WDCA. Key word "Wildlife". I can't imagine how many calls I would be getting to come pick up Fido or Silvester if I was just simply Animal Damage Control.

I do like the term Wildlife Control.

I use wildlife control, and yes, I did trap a goat that was damaging a homeowners roof!

Wow! I guess our name says it all. Advanced ( As opposed to Retarded ) Wildlife and Pest Control ( as opposed to actually getting rid of wildlife and pests forever )

that sounds like a good one . I did a coyote job for a large potato chip maker last fall and lady in incharge claimed to have had problems locating a coyote trapper under the search of wildlife control and made a point to correct me on how I advertised as a coyote trapper . I was like really ok I'll make a change

I tell my mother in law...that I am a trapper.