The Wildlife Control Inc.

Please see attached PDF response letter and photographs. Thank you.

I reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find the resolution per the terms of the Global Settlement Agreement is satisfactory to me.

Agreed.

On Wednesday, January 24th, I received a call from [redacted] regarding a skunk issue at her residence.  As I was in the area I was able to respond much more quickly than is usual.  I went over all the pricing with her on the phone and again on site and she agreed to the terms, signed...

the work order, and wrote a check for the Service Fee.  While [redacted] is the signatory on our agreement, [redacted] accompanied me while setting the traps. Upon inspecting the site I determined the skunk had burrowed from under the deck, making its way under the foundation wall of the crawl space and under the radon mitigation system.  I estimate the crawl space to be 12’x 20’, with heavy plastic covering the floor and running up the wall.  As you might expect, there are also numerous items stored in this area. I explained that skunks spray for one of two reasons, pain or fear.  We also discussed the fact that the skunk may have sprayed due to an inter-species conflict, it got in a fight with a raccoon, opossum or some other animal. We continued the inspection and decided to set the traps where the skunk was going under the deck. There are several reasons I chose not to set traps in the crawl space. ·       State Law requires traps be checked daily.  If a trap is set in the house I have to have legal access to check that trap, period.  I did not, nor do I, want a key to someone’s house if the animal can freely go in and out. ·       Though I have had few skunks spray, given the reaction both [redacted] and [redacted] were already experiencing, a skunk spraying a full load while in the trap would be catastrophic. ·       Animals in traps typically discharge feces and urine as a nervous reaction to their capture.  This too would have been an issue.  ·       The only way to extract a skunk from their home, once captured, would be to take it through their living quarters. ·       Here I will use an analogy he apparently felt was condescending.  I have never heard of a skunk ordering a pizza so we know they have to go out to get their groceries.  This is just a way to state that the skunk is obviously going out.  Therefore a trap set near the entry point on the deck will be just as effective as one set in the crawl space. When [redacted] called and stated the skunks were walking around the traps we responded and changed the lure.  This would not be apparent to the uneducated or inexperienced.  Marshmallows are used as eye appeal, as they look like eggs.  However we also place commercially formulated lures, specifically designed as attractants, on the marshmallows.  Lures act as olfactory stimulants.  In some cases these lures are clear liquids and unless you smell them you would not even realize they had been put there.  We usually stick to very mild, non-meat, baits and lures as we do not want to attract dogs and cats or animals from considerable distances. [redacted] also requested we change to peanut butter on toast as he had read on the internet that that was the best.  While peanut butter and bread may capture a skunk it would be an excellent attractant for birds and squirrels. His request to add a trap on the other side of the deck was fulfilled the day it was requested. Each time [redacted] called and left a message, and ask that I contact him, he failed to leave a phone number.  I would try to call the number that showed on the caller ID and was never able to get an answer.  I would then call [redacted], who unfortunately, unbeknownst to me, was dealing with a family issue, and leave a message to be forwarded to [redacted].  This must have been terribly frustrating for her having to be the go between for our discussion.  I simply had no way to contact [redacted] directly as he never left a working number for me to call.  In my messages to [redacted] I always asked for [redacted] to call me at my office number, 614-870-8727, on the front of the business card, rather than the reporting number on the back of the card that is set up for voice mail only (the reporting number is for clients to call in each morning and report “catch” or “no catch” if they would like to avoid paying us to come out and check traps).  He never did. He also requested that I come in the crawl space and physically extract the skunk immediately.  I declined.  I am not trained in radon mitigation services.  I am not educated in radon risk assessment to determine the proper means of doing so.  I am not licensed in radon systems and have no way of fixing the system if it were removed or to even determine what risk it would pose to those in the home.  As we are not licensed radon mitigation specialists, I am not even sure we could legally work on the system. Furthermore, once someone started tearing it out, along with the materials stored there, the probability of startling or scaring the skunk would increase exponentially.  Scared skunks spray. Once again I was unable to relay this info to [redacted] as I had no working number for him. I know it can be difficult, but when dealing with a wild animal, patience and persistence pay off.  We were changing baits and lures trying to discover what the skunk would be attracted to.  I am betting that this skunk is a male.  We are in the breeding season, and sex is the primary driving factor right now.  This can make it more challenging.  Given a bit more time I’m sure we would have prevailed. We did capture raccoons.  This can’t be helped as raccoons and skunks eat the same foods.  I explained this prior to setting the traps and it is on the signed work order.  It is also probable that raccoons caused the skunk to spray in the first place. According to [redacted], I am not allowed to discuss any further issues with him as his last recorded message from January 31st at 8:01 am was in part, “I do not want the animal trapped.  Do not call me. I don’t want to discuss this…. I will call the police…. I will have you arrested for trespassing….I have an attorney on retainer for just this type of matter… Do not call me …… DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE ME!”  Once again I have no way of calling him as he has never given a working number.   In light of the message left, I doubt we would have had a rational discussion in any case. I stewed over that message for a few days.  In fact I had not even cashed the check [redacted] wrote.  I have since deposited the payment for the Service Fee and sent the bill for the raccoons we captured.  Prior to the registration of this complaint, I extended [redacted]’s Service Fee for 30 days, if SHE chooses to have us return and the account is in good standing.  There is currently a balance due of $222.53.   Respectfully,   Dirk E. S[redacted], President The Wildlife Control Company, Inc.