Regulatory oversight and activities of wildlife control operators in Illinois

Members of the wildlife profession, animal welfare groups, and the wildlife control industry believe that state agencies should provide greater regulatory oversight of private wildlife control operators (WCOs). We describe specific regulatory provisions of a program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish qualifications for issuance of permits to WCOs, standards for animal welfare, and restrictions on business practices such as translocation. WCOs licensed by the DNR reportedly serviced >495,000 wildlife conflicts and handled >483,000 animals from 1992 through 2000. Although the number of permits issued to WCOs increased from 275 in 1992 to 510 in 2000, administrative demands of the program were offset by our ability to refer homeowners to WCOs for assistance, thereby reducing the amount of time needed for detailed consultations with agency staff. We anticipate that WCOs will play an increasingly important role in wildlife damage management and recommend adoption of appropriate restrictions on their activities where none exist.