Wildlife Control Consultant

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, discusses an article that lists the running speeds of various small mammals ranging from house mice to voles to shrews. This information helps wildlife control operators and pest management professionals understand animal abilities and behavior.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, reviews an article by Ruzicka, R. E., & Conover, M. R. 2011. Influence of wind and humidity on foraging behavior of olfactory mesopredators. Canadian Field Naturalist 125(2):132-139. This research shows that predators are more active during certain wind speeds because the wind makes it easier for them to smell their prey. Stephen discusses how this research should affect wildlife control operators and pest management professionals use of bait and lure to trap raccoons, skunks, and red foxes.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life podcast, discusses research by Jorgensen, E. E., Demaris, S., & Whitworth, W. R. 1994. The effect of box-trap design on rodent captures. The Southwestern Naturalist 39(3):291-294. He relates these findings with how wildlife control operators and pest control professionals should also consider the effect that trap style has on wildlife captures.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life podcast, summarizes the findings contained in Holroyd, S., Lausen, C. L., de Freitas, E., Crawford, R., O'Keefe, J., Boothe, C., Segers, J., & Reichard, J. (2023). Best management practices for the use of bat houses in U.S. and Canada: With focus on summer habitat mitigation for Little Brown Myotis, Yuma Myotis, and Big Brown Bat. Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative for the WNS Conservation and Recovery Working group publication. Learn the principles to help Chiroptera to live in your bat condo. Help conserve bats which are suffering from the devastation caused by white nose syndrome.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, discusses the ban on glueboards for use on rodents by the Wales Parliament on October 17, 2023. He suggests that such bans may find their way to the United States. He argues that the wildlife control industry and pest control industry need to be writing position papers and lobbying legislators and the public to prevent damaging bans from taking place in the United States.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life podcast, discusses the question whether Vitamin K1 rich foods counteract the effects of chlorophacinone based anticoagulant rodenticides when controlling Montane voles (Microtus montanus).

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life podcast, summarizes research on whether red, blue, or green lasers can frighten deer at night in agricultural fields. Stephen also reviews basic information on laser types and safety issues related to the use of lasers as a frightening device for wildlife control and pest management personnel.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, discusses galvanic corrosion which is the how two different metals in the presence of a fluid can interact with each other and hasten degradation of the metal. He explains how this can be troublesome for wildlife control operators and pest control professionals seeking to provide prevention and repairs to client homes.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, reviews the active ingredient alphachloralose, a-chloralose, for use in the control of mice (Mus musculus), Mus domesticus, rodents in structures. The rodenticide's mode of active, formulation and risk of harm to dogs is also reviewed. The product kills by affecting the CNS system.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life podcast, lists four myths he believes trappers, wildlife control operators, pest management professionals and vertebrate pest specialists should stop telling themselves, the public, or their clients. They are 1. conibear traps kill instantly, 2. Trapping is highly regulated, 3. Dog-proof traps can't catch dogs, and 4. Translocation is humane.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, explains why homeowners, pest control operators, vertebrate pest specialists and wildlife control operators need to control voles in the fall to prevent turf and tree damage over the winter. Waiting to spring won't stop the turf and tree damage caused by voles during the winter. Stephen's presentation focusses on use of rodenticides to control voles in residential settings.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, responds to a letter commenting on his review of the Victor M46ouc Zapper Max electronic rat and rodent trap. His original video was done in February 18, 2022 on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzPFYMQLK8E&t=2s

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life podcast, explains why PowerPoints often suck and how implementing several principles and techniques can go a long way to helping your audience apprehend your content. The principles follow research gained from neuroscience on how people learn.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, interviews for a second time, Bill Dowd, President and CEO of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control https://www.skedaddlewildlife.com/ , a vertebrate pest control franchise company. We discuss his company's wildlife control process, how they differ from "traditional" wildlife control and the future of his company and the wildlife damage industry.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, interviews Anne Lacy, North American Director of the Eastern Flyway Project discusses Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis), their biology, characteristics, and life history.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, discusses bird control theory and practice with bird control expert Rolie Calzadilla of Pest Wildlife Pro based in Miami, Florida. Rolie reviews the four questions every wildlife control operator should ask his/her client and then reviews several methods that he thinks are useful for most bird problem situations.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, interviews Anne Lacy, North American Director of the Eastern Flyway Project discusses Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis), their damage to turf, property and corn, and methods and resources used to manage that damage.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, explains why manufacturers of vertebrate pest control equipment, repellents, frightening devices and traps should work to publish information about the efficacy of their products. Stephen highlights how publishing helps provide critical analysis of products and methods so that users can have confidence.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, summarizes some research on the topic of woodchuck repellents and discusses the efficacy problems with vertebrate pest repellents.

How to make better decisions using a structured process. Tips from Annie Duke as related by Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life podcast.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, discusses the research by Frankova et al. 2017 which reveals how brodifacoum, a second generation anticoagulant rodenticide, affects house mice feeding behavior and longevity.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life podcast, interviews Head Coach, Dominic Rubino of 10XBLT. Dominic helps business owners and entrepreneurs achieve their goals and overcome challenges. This podcast is suitable for pest control operators, wildlife control operators and any business owner. This is part 2 of the interview.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life podcast, interviews Head Coach, Dominic Rubino of 10XBLT. Mr. Rubino is a business coach who helps entrepreneurs and business owners overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Information is suitable for pest control operators, pest management professionals, and wildlife control operators and anyone else who owns a business. This is part 1.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life Podcast, discusses how to remove armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) using the combination of a hunting dog and a cage trap. This method is suitable for managing armadillos on large acreages or if you have a hole and want to know if an armadillo is present.

Stephen M. Vantassel, host of Living the Wild Life, discusses the process for finding odors from animals, sewers, mold, feces, and urine emanating from walls, voids, decks, porches, attics, basements, pipes, and more. Stephen also highlights legal pitfalls and concerns with businesses looking to enter the deodorizing market.