LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL OPERATOR (NWCO) PERMIT APPLICATION
This application consists of a 75-question test. The test questions relate to wildlife biology and behavior, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) rules and regulations, prevention and control of wildlife damage and general wildlife knowledge questions. You must receive a minimum score of 80% correct to qualify for the permit.
Recommended resources:
1) Current LDWF hunting and trapping regulations http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/publications/
2)LDWF rules and regulations for NWCO’s (Title 76-included at the end of application)
3)The 2000 Report of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
4)Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Handbook published by the University of Nebraska
www.icwdm.org.
Return the completed application form, test and signed release statement. The test will be scored as soon as possible. If a passing score is achieved, a background check will be conducted on the applicant. If the applicant passes the background check, a permit will be issued and the permittee must abide by the rules and regulations or face possible enforcement action including citations and loss of their permit.
For additional information contact Emile P. LeBlanc DMAP Coordinator (225)765-2344 or via email at eleblanc@wlf.louisiana.gov
APPLICATION FOR NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL OPERATOR (NWCO) PERMIT
***Providing false information will result in denial of permit***
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NAME |
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DATE: |
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PHONE: H( ) |
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LOUISIANA TRAPPING LICENSE # __________________________________
SPECIES WILLING TO WORK WITH _____________________________________________
PARISHES WILLING TO WORK IN ______________________________________________
Please Return To:
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & FISHERIES
WILDLIFE DIVISION
ATTN: Emile P. LeBlanc
P.O. BOX 98000
BATON ROUGE, LA 70898-9000
(225) 765-2344/FAX (225) 763-5456
Be sure to return the signed release statement and the test.
NWCO PERMIT APPLICATION RELEASE STATEMENT
This statement must be signed and returned with the application before a Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Permit can be issued.
“I have been advised and do understand that by applying for and accepting a permit issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, I am being allowed to engage in an activity which would otherwise be prohibited by law or for which a permit is required. I understand that the permit is not a license and confers no property right upon me. I specifically agree to abide by all State and Federal fish and wildlife laws and regulations, and all State and Federal laws and regulations which relate to this permit or the permitted activity, and by all other terms and conditions of this permit. I understand that the permit for which I am applying may be suspended, canceled or revoked at any time by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. I agree to immediately surrender the permit issued to me upon demand made upon me by any authorized employee of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. I understand that my failure to fully and completely comply with the laws, regulations, terms, and conditions referred to herein could result in the immediate suspension, cancellation or revocation of this and other permits issued to me by the Department and that I may be denied future permits as a consequence of my actions. I understand and agree that any permit issued to me by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is in the nature of a privilege which is being voluntarily extended to me by the Department and the failure on my part to cooperate fully and completely with the Department or its employees can result in the loss of the privilege conferred and the denial of future requests for permits. By accepting this permit, I evidence my agreement to be bound by all conditions and stipulations set forth herein.”
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NUISANCE WILDLIFE CONTROL OPERATOR EXAM
MULTIPLE CHOICE – CHOOSE THE ONE BEST ANSWER
1)Which of the following is NOT and approved method of euthanasia for raccoons according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)?
a.drowning
b.gunshot
c.penetrating captive bolt
d.CO2 chamber
2) Annual reports of nuisance wildlife control activities shall be submitted |
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a. on the expiration date of the permit
b. within 30 days of the expiration date of the permit c. every six months
d. no later than 10 days after the expiration date of the permit
3)You receive a call from a person who is concerned that the high numbers of bobcats in an area are reducing the rabbit population. It is early summertime and they want to get rid of as many bobcats as possible before rabbit season. The best solution by the NWCO to this problem would be:
a.capture as many bobcats as you can in live traps and relocate them, and then start using snares.
b.explain to the person that you cannot provide that type of service because this does not constitute a valid nuisance wildlife complaint
c.apply for a special night-shooting permit for bobcats and begin hunting them at night.
d.advise the landowner that he should put out poison for the bobcats by injecting dead chickens with rat poison and placing them in areas where bobcats are seen.
4)Which of the following MAY NOT be taken under the authority of a NWCO permit?
a.big brown bat
b.red fox
c.Rock doves
d.woodpeckers
5)Which of the following methods are legal for taking coyotes?
a.leghold traps
b.snares
c.daylight shooting
d.All of the above
6)A permitted NWCO may use poison to control wildlife if:
a.he/she possesses a commercial pesticide applicators license and the chemical is registered for use against the target species
b.he/she has verbal authorization from a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist
c.the animal is inside a human dwelling
d.the poison is registered for use on agricultural crops
7)The most common species of venomous snakes in Louisiana are the:
a.green snake and king snake
b.ground rattler and canebrake rattlesnake
c.coral snake and bull snake
d.cottonmouth and copperhead
8)Before shooting, under the conditions of the NWCO permit, the NWCO must
a.attach a silencer to the weapon
b.abide by all state and municipal firearms restrictions
c.wait until nightfall
d.use steel shot only
9)A potential client calls about raccoons and opossums that have been getting into their garbage cans. Which one of the following offers the best long term solution to the problem?
a.capture the animals in live traps and relocate them
b.recommend preventative measures to keep animals from accessing garbage
c.place ammonia-soaked rags in each of the garbage cans
d.capture the animals in live traps and euthanize them
10). How many assistants can you designate to operate under your NWCO permit?
a.none
b.one
c.two
d.unlimited
11)Which of the following method is useful in preventing woodpecker damage to wood siding?
a.hanging netting over the affected area
b.using visual or auditory frightening methods
c.applying a sticky repellant to the affected area
d.all of the above
12). You capture a raccoon and determine it has a litter of young inside a wall or attic. Upon investigating, you find that its kits still have their eyes closed, but you can’t reach them. The client doesn’t want you to cut any holes in the wall to get them out. Which of the following offers the best alternative?
a. pour 1-2 cups of ammonia down the opening, then release the mother so that she’ll move the young when it gets dark in 6-8 hours.
b. place the live trap (with the female still in it) close to the opening so that the young hear her and come out when they get hungry
c. place solid deodorizer blocks in the opening and then seal it up
d. release the mother at the site and check the next morning to see if the disturbance caused her to move her young during the night
13)Which of the following species of venomous snake is native to Louisiana?
a.Western diamondback rattlesnake
b.Eastern diamondback rattlesnake
c.Sidewinder rattlesnake
d.Diamondback water snake
14)Which of the following birds can be legally killed in Louisiana without any special permits?
a.egrets
b.rock doves
c.chicken hawks
d.all of the above
15)NWCO’s may control nuisance alligators _______.
a.if the alligator is less than 4 feet long
b.if the alligator is released alive
c.always
d.never
16)Wolves pose a particularly difficult problem for the NWCO because_______.
a.they are too big for live traps
b.they rarely leave enough evidence behind to identify
c.there are no wild wolves in Louisiana
c. they are extremely dangerous to approach when caught in a trap
17)NWCO’s may keep which parts of animals taken under the authority of the NWCO permit?
a.skins
b.skulls
c.teeth
d.none
18) Traps must be checked and all animals removed a minimum of once every |
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a.12
b.24
c.36
d.48
19)is NOT an authorized method of capture.
a.padded leghold trap
b.steel jaw leghold trap
c.toothed leghold trap
d.snare
20)All traps and other capture devices shall be set in a manner that
a.is out of the view of the general public.
b.will maximize the risk to non-target animals.
c.is approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
d.is securely attached to a stake driven into the ground.
21)A homeowner calls and complains that something has killed several of his chickens but doesn’t know what. When you arrive to investigate, you find the dead chickens in the pen neatly
stacked in a pile. Immediately you suspect the predator is a |
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a.raccoon
b.opossum
c.fox
d.mink
22) |
The most versatile control tool for coyotes are size |
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leghold traps. |
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a. one and two |
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b. two and three |
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c. three and four |
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d. four and five |
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23) |
Removing brush piles and weed patches to control rabbits is an example of |
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a. landscape management |
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b. habitat modification |
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c. indirect control |
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d. population manipulation |
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24) When presented with an abundance of food, |
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may kill more animals than they can eat. |
a.snakes
b.opossums
c.hawks
d.mink
25) The use of in most situations where beavers are causing damage is the most
effective, practical and environmentally safe method of control.
a.firearms
b.traps
c.repellants
d.trained dogs
26)Bats in Louisiana can be grouped into what category?
a.fruit bats
b.insectivorous bats
c.vampire bats
d.house bats
27)A beaver colony usually consists of_______ related beavers
a.4 to 8
b.0 to 20
c.1 to 5
d.more than 20
28)_______ can be used to prevent birds from roosting in the rafters of buildings.
a.ladders
b.high frequency sounds
c.netting
d.roach bombs
29)_______ are responsible for most raptor depredation problems.
a.chicken hawks
b.Great Horned owls
c.Red-tailed hawks
d.Falcons
30)Characteristic signs of _______ activity are shallow holes 1-3 inches deep and 3-5 inches wide.
a.snake
b.coyote
c.weasel
d.armadillo
31)You respond to a complaint from a landowner who has had some adult turkeys killed. You find a turkey carcass hidden under a pile of leaves and soil. What animal would you suspect is responsible?
a.coyote
b.fox
c.Great Horned owl
d.bobcat
32)_______ often kill calves by eating into the anus or abdominal area.
a.coyotes
b.bobcats
c.hawks
d.foxes
33)A Conibear© type, # 330 is one of the most effective types of body-gripping trap to catch
a.snakes
b.mink
c.beavers
d.coyotes
34)A toxic perch is
a.a perforated metal tube containing a wick saturated with a contact toxicant
b.a fish dipped in poison used to kill nuisance otter and mink
c.a perforated metal tube containing a sticky repellant
d.a bird roosting area contaminated by histoplasmosis spores
35)A homeowner calls and complains that something is killing his chickens but doesn’t know what. When you arrive to investigate, you find a chicken pen that is in a state of disrepair and has several places where a predator may enter the pen. The best solution to this problem is
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a.Advise the owner to repair the pen to prevent any predators from entering.
b.Place a handful of mothballs at the holes in the pen to discourage predators.
c.Try to identify the predator and set an appropriate trap to remove the animal.
d.Block the holes in the pen with boards or bricks.
36)Foxes may cause serious problems for _______ producers.
a.blueberry
b.crawfish
c.poultry
d.all of the above
37)To prevent mink from entering fenced livestock enclosures, seal all openings larger than_______.
a.1 foot
b.1 inch
c.1 centimeter
d.1 millimeter
38)Poultry killed by _______ usually have bloody puncture wounds in the back and breast.
a.skunks
b.opossums
c.raccoons
d.raptors
39)Recommended baits for live-trapping nutria are_______.
a.crawfish
b.small chunks of raw beef
c.sweet potatoes
d.oranges
40)A charged trip wire placed 6-8 inches above the ground and 8-10 inches outside a fence is often effective in preventing _______ from digging and crawling under.
a.coyotes
b.minks
c.snakes
d.armadillos
TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS
41.Wildlife may be released on State-owned lands without obtaining written permission.
a.true
b.false
42.There are no repellents registered to discourage rabbits.
a.true
b.false
43.You must submit an annual report of your activities related to nuisance wildlife control.
a.true
b.false