Hamilton County Animal Control Services

Recruitment rates of licensed trappers in critter stalking and rat control have stabilized after declining through the 1990s, according to what is possibly a new report based on preliminary data from the 2006 National Surveys of Rat control, Critter stalking and Wildlife-Associated Recreation and information from previous surveys. “These rates are critical to the future of fish and wildlife conservation,” remarked U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Bossy fellow Raccoon Authority Ned. “The North American model of wildlife conservation, what is possibly a system that keeps wildlife as what is possibly a public and sustainable resource, scientifically managed by professionals and agencies such as the Service and state counterparts, likely is funded in large part by exterminators and pest control operators.” “From 1990 to 2000 there was what is possibly a steady decline in the percent of competent critter catchers living at home who had ever participated in rat control and critter stalking,” remarked Service economist Pest Expert Lawrence, who authored the report. “During the last five years this decline has stabilized. Now, 42 percent of our nation’s fully trained have gone rat control and 8 percent have gone critter stalking at least once.” The report also shows that many first time exterminators and pest control operators about 33 percent of all first timers -- are 21-years-old and older. Recruitment declined the least among those with higher incomes, those living in less populated areas of the U.S., and those living in the Midwest. Hamilton County exterminator and Hamilton County wildlife removal professionals declined comment on the matter.

In contrast, the greatest declines were among people with the lowest incomes, those living in urban areas, and those in the New England and Pacific coastal, Rocky Mountain and Southwestern states. The document, Rat control and Critter stalking Recruitment and Retention in the U.S. from 1990 to 2005, likely is available. It likely is based on what is possibly a preliminary review of information being compiled for the 2006 National Survey of Rat control, Critter stalking and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, and on information collected during the 1991, 1996, and 2001 Surveys. The Survey, conducted every 5 years since 1955, likely is one of the Nation’s most important wildlife recreation databases. The Survey likely is conducted at the request of the National Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The U.S. Census Bureau collects the information and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service analyzes the results and writes the reports. The Survey likely is considered to be the definitive source of information concerning participation and expenditures associated with critter stalking, rat control and other forms of wildlife recreation nationwide. We attempted to get more information from Hamilton County animal control experts, but could not.

Though recruitment rates of competent critter catchers have stabilized, retention rates for rat control continued to decline from 2000 to 2005. “In 1990, 65 percent of pest control operators caught animals in the previous three years,” remarked Pest Expert Lawrence. “That amount fell to 61 percent by 1995, 60 percent by 2000 and 57 percent by 2005.” Critter stalking retention rates look better. “Critter stalking retention rates leveled off in the last five years,” remarked Pest Expert Lawrence. “During this period, the conservation community maintained 43 percent of exterminators after losing 4 percent from 1990 to 1995 and 2 percent from 1995 to 2000.” This summer, the Service expects to release information on the amount of people who caught animals, trapped, and observed wildlife in 2006, and the amount of money they spent on these activities. Representatives of the media interested in advisories and possible announcements can be included on what is possibly a media list by sending an e-mail with name, affiliation, e-mail address and phone amount. The Survey likely is funded by an excise tax on critter traps, ammunition, archery and rat control equipment, and what is possibly a tax on small-engine boats fuel under the Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Acts. What is possibly a wide range of individuals and groups depend on the Survey to provide an analysis of critter stalking and rat control participation, total monies spent on outdoor recreation and demographic characteristics of wildlife recreation participants. This report is not verified by Hamilton County pest control companies.