Book Review: Nuisance Animals: Backyard Pests to Free-Roaming Killers.
This review was originally published in the Probe, the official newsletter
of the National Animal Damage Control Association. It is reprinted here in a
slightly modified form.
By John Trout Jr. Midwest Publishing, 1997.pp.1-192 softcover. $14.95
Mr. Trout has provided the reading public with an informative and readable
book on the issue of animal damage control. His perspective on the issues relating
to wildlife damage flow from a decidedly conservationist philosophy. I derived
great pleasure in reading the thoughts of someone whose beliefs so closely mirror
my own. Mr. Trout correctly contends that humans have a responsibility to care
for wildlife. However he is in no way an animal rights activist. He tells us
that he has hunted, trapped and even raised animals. He also seems to have a
background in biology. So unlike other books on animal damage, this author can
speak from personal experience the financial losses that can occur from wildlife.
The opening chapter establishes the issues and causes of our current problems
with wildlife damage. The simplistic answer is that urban sprawl and the resultant
loss of habitat is the reason for wildlife damage. Fortunately, our author isn't
that simplistic. He notes that various successes of wildlife management have
actually increased animal populations and the resultant damage. For example,
at the turn of the century America had about 500,000 deer. Today the figure
approaches 20 million. (To those of you who claim that this statistic is still
the result of urbanization in that deer benefit from urbanization, the reader
should remember that recent conservation practices, most if not all are attributable
to sportsmen, are also part of the reason).
Mr. Trout then moves to illustrate the scope of the animal damage problem.
Chapter two systematically presents a great deal of statistical information
on the damage caused by wildlife. Anyone interested in confronting A/R extremist's
need the information found in this book. A brief reading will demonstrate the
fact that humans and animals really can't "just get along" because
the conflicts are too great. Mr. Trout should be commended for his work in compiling
this research. For unlike other government statistics, animal damage stats are
not universally gathered. So Mr. Trout had to contact a variety of states and
agencies to compile the stats. One interesting piece of datum was a table which
listed the top three predators causing damage according to each state. The table
also tells you what the top two targets of those predators are.
Chapter three discusses general responses and strategies to wildlife damage.
The usual resources are discussed, such as the Federal ADC program, now called
Wildlife Service, and extension programs. What makes this chapter special is
that this author actually talks about nuisance trappers. He provides a brief
insight into NWCO activities listing even more statistics. I also need to commend
Mr. Trout for raising the issue that the decline of fur trapping bears at least
some responsibility for the nuisance trapping industry. On a side note, I just
want to exhort state biologists and officials. If you are concerned over the
rise of NWCO's, then be sure to look in the mirror. The increasing regulation
of fur trapping has helped nail the coffin of the fur industry. One need only
to look at Massachusetts to see the reality and truth of this statement. These
regulations have also cost jobs.
The middle portion of the book discusses problems and resolutions to wildlife
damage. He organizes the chapters around animal classification, such as Birds
&Wildlife, Carnivorous Animals, Hoofed Animals and finally Rodents and Other
Mammals. The sections provide helpful information on damage identification and
possible damage solutions. Unfortunately, the information is often too general
to provide a great deal of help for homeowners. I got the impression that the
book was written more for farmers and rural readers than Joe Six pack living
in urban or suburban America. There is little to no trapping information contained
in the book. However, Mr. Trout does give some information on electric fences
that readers may find useful. I think instruction on electric fences is one
area of research that needs either more development or more publicity for us
NWCO's. I also appreciated the tips on differentiating woodchuck damage to a
garden from other animals. One final comment on this section is that Mr. Trout
covers solutions to damage caused by some rather unusual animals, such as wild
pigs and elk.
Mr. Trout dutifully covers the dangers of wildlife diseases. The comments
are brief and too the point. He covers nine of the most recognizable and arguably
the most common diseases. Most readers of the Probe will be aware of these issues
but as always it never hurts to get a reminder.
The final chapter addresses wildlife management. But Mr. Trout takes a different
approach. Rather than telling us how to ravage our landscape to reduce animal
populations, he gives advice on how to create habitat for wildlife. In this
way, Mr. Trout highlights the differences between animal activists and conservationists.
Activists see killing an animal as a problem. Conservationists see killing an
animal as a resource and opportunity. When people know that they can resolve
a problem with lethal control, when things get out of hand, then perhaps people
will be more willing to take risks and set aside habitat for wildlife.
I found it difficult to give an animal damage control grade to this book because
it didn't seem to provide the level of how to information that I would have
like to have seen. I saw it more as a practical/philosophical approach to the
issues of animal damage control. If you buy this book looking for how to information
on controlling x species, I think you will be disappointed. For that reason,
I have to give the book a grade of a C. However, if you want a book that will
help you understand issues in animal damage control and general strategies to
resolve conflicts, I would give a grade of a B+. I think that educators looking
to teach their students about the economic impacts of animal damage should definitely
use this book. It is readable and contains real life accounts of the author's
losses to animal damage.
The book has been professionally printed and compiled. Photos and line drawings
are clear. Most enhance the writing, while a few are little more than window
dressing. The book also comes with an index and a two page appendix of government
and private wildlife organizations. You can obtain a copy of this book by visiting
Amazon.com
Stephen Vantassel is a Certified
Wildlife Control Professional. He is a nationally known writer including
having been an assistant editor for Wildlife Control Technology magazine, author
of numerous ADC articles as well as The Wildlife Removal
Handbook rev.ed and the Wildlife Damage Inspection
Handbook rev. ed. Mr. Vantassel is also a vocal critic of the growing animal
rights movement. He has exposed the fallacies and deceptions of the animal
rights protest industry through debate, lecture and publication.
10/19/02
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