Pest Management Professional, March 2011
2011 Bird Guide Illegal Eagles and seagulls pigeons and geese How to deliver bird control services without flying under the law R Brett Madden and Robert Young Contributors T he nuisance health hazards and danger from propertybased avian communities have never been greater Resident Canada goose populations for example have increased by more than 300 in many U S areas Roosting pigeons in urban and other well developed communities inflict significant damage on property infrastructure and in some cases the lives of its citizens As a result the opportunity for offering and delivering bird control solutions has also experienced dramatic increases But the professional exclusion or removal of troublesome birds has to be approached with careful attention to and observance of numerous regulations and ordinances Through either neglect or willful disobedience you can face crippling fines and punishment Here are six fundamental areas to keep under your wing 1 License to nil As pest control experts know to do business in most states you need to acquire certain licensing and certification Just like for general pests you need to explore the need for special licenses or permits for bird control For example to clear Canada geese through the deployment of border collies the state of Pa requires a special license from the states Game Commission Failure to seek and gain appropriate licensing can result in specific fines and depending on the amount of work performed significant penalties Other states require pest management professionals PMPs to take certain tests especially those states with a strong sense of wildlife protection advocacy Before offering bird exclusion control or clearing services check with the appropriate agencies within the states you wish to do business 2 Paying a public price Compensating your workers is a combination of how you choose to run your business and fair employment laws However when it comes to fulfilling bird control assignments that are partially or fully publically funded you must adhere to the prevailing wage established by the state or county Prevailing wage is defined as the hourly wage usual benefits and overtime paid to the majority of workers laborers and mechanics within a particular Prior to clearing through the use of border collies pest control experts often must acquire special licenses or complete state mandated testing continued on BG8 mypmp net Pest Management Professional March 2011 BG5
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