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MIAMI, Fla. — Critter Control CEO Kevin Clark proposed a ‘Suggested Protocol for the Responsible Management of Wildlife Affected by Land Clearing and the Modification of Wildlife Habitats’ at The Wildlife Society’s 15th Annual Conference in Miami, Fla. on Nov. 11, 2008.
“We all know that environmentalism waxes and wanes in importance in American politics, and while it may take a back seat to the current economic crisis - it is still on the upswing,” said Clark. The number of Americans who say they worry about the environment a ‘great deal’ or ‘a fair amount’ increased from 62 to 77 percent between 2004 and 2006.
Loss of habitat and large scale habitat modification represents the most significant threat to wildlife in the United States. Substantial numbers of native mammals, birds and reptiles die yearly as the result of broad-scale land clearing. Conflicts between people and animals are on the rise as wildlife habitat is reduced. Clark pointed out that, “People want - and deserve -immediate and successful solutions to their wildlife problems, while being assured that wild animals are humanely handled.”
While working with Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors Worldwide conservation initiative, Critter Control’s board saw the need for a program similar to the Code of Practice for Land Clearing they have implemented in Australia. The protocol provides guidelines to ensure that fair, reasonable and appropriate measures are available to those involved in the modification of wildlife habitats; with the overall purpose being to minimize the adverse effects on wild animals and promote conservation.
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The protocol emphasizes the responsibilities of all relevant parties to: take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent suffering to animals; minimize the loss of wildlife caused directly or indirectly by development or land-clearing; and to conserve, as much as possible, the ecological values of development sites and their surrounding natural environment. The protocol also provides operating procedures and guidelines for biologists and wildlife control operators, on whom much of the responsibility would rest to ensure application of the protocol.
Clark believes the removal of wildlife from sites prior to and during vegetation clearing represents the best mechanism for reducing wildlife injury and mortality associated with land clearing, and will in turn reduce human/wildlife conflicts in surrounding areas. These principles should be rigorously applied to all development proposals early in the planning process to minimize the requirement for expensive (and less desirable) wildlife and habitat management alternatives. The entire Suggested Protocol manual can be viewed at www.crittercontrol.com