Wildlife challenging your patience? Call Lexington’s wildlife management professionals – Trifecta Wildlife Services
Ghostbusters!
Well sure maybe if our favorite green ghost Slimer has shacked up with you… But, in all seriousness despite my reference to a popular 1980’s film you may well be faced with a confusing situation of who to call when you’re experiencing nuisance wildlife or wildlife damage issues. There are a number of businesses, organizations, or other entities that may come to mind when seeking wildlife control or removal in Lexington, KY.
Let’s break down who’s who and what they do so you can get help quickly:
Nuisance wildlife control operators in Lexington, KY…
…are state permitted professional wildlife damage managers who provide services to resolve nuisance wildlife or wildlife damage issues. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources defines “nuisance wildlife” as “vertebrate wildlife that causes or may cause damage or threat to agriculture, human health or safety, property or natural resources.” In other words a nuisance wildlife control operator is “who you gonna call” if you’re suffering wildlife damage in Lexington, KY. Some synonymous terms you may also hear used to describe wildlife control include animal damage control, problem animal control, pest animal control, critter control, wildlife management, and wildlife conflict resolution.
Animal control officers in Lexington, KY…
…are employees of Lexington-Fayette Animal Care and Control who contracts annually with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to provide the government’s mandated animal control services which inlcude the enforcement of laws and ordinances relating to pets such as dog and cats, not wild animals. They’ll often enforce leash laws, rabies vaccination, animal registration, animal cruelty, and other laws common to domestic animal or companion animal ownership. Animal control officers are not charged with, or permitted to perform, wildlife control in Lexington, KY and will commonly refer callers to permitted nuisance wildlife control operators.
Pest control in Lexington, KY…
…is a unique industry that deals with bugs and other invertebrates, including ants, spiders, termites, and bed bugs. Lexington pest control may also provide mice, rat, and other rodent control services often through the use of pesticides or rodenticides. This differs from Lexington wildlife damage control operators who handle vertebrate wildlife issues including raccoon removal, squirrel trapping, skunk removal, mole trapping, and also work with coyotes, beaver, snakes, birds, etc., to implement control, trapping, or exclusion through mechanical means and are not permitted to use pesticides or other forms of chemical control.
Exterminators in Lexington, KY…
…are practitioners of invertebrate pest control and is not a name commonly used in reference wildlife control operators.
Wildlife rehabilitation centers or sanctuaries in Lexington, KY…
…are permitted individuals and organizations who rescue injured and orphaned wildlife. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources defines “wildlife rehabilitation” as “the process of rescuing, raising, and arranging for veterinary medical care of orphaned, sick, displaced, or injured wildlife with the goal of releasing the wildlife back into its natural habitat.” These caring persons provide a public service to those faced with the situation of locating injured or orphaned wildlife who hope to find skilled and lawful care for the animal, but rehabbers are not permitted to resolve wildlife damage issues. Kentucky wildlife control operators may have cooperative relationships with Kentucky wildlife rehabilitators so that animal issues of all varieties can be responsibly addressed.
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR)…
…is our state agency charged with oversight of our fish and wildlife resources. Their mission statement is “To conserve and enhance fish and wildlife resources and provide opportunity for hunting, fishing, trapping, boating and other wildlife related activities.” The KDFWR is the state agency responsible for promulgating regulations that govern the permits and lawful activities of nuisance wildlife control operators. The KDFWR is not funded to provide wildlife control or removal and with few exceptions refers persons experiencing wildlife issues to permitted nuisance wildlife control operators.
University of Kentucky Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service…
…is a comprehensive outreach and engagement program whose mission is to make a difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through research-based education. Their Agriculture & Natural Resources Program in particular has created and distributes educational materials regarding wildlife species and wildlife damage.
911 / Police / Fire Department / Emergency Management in Lexington, KY…
…are services to report crimes, fires, to save lives, or anytime an emergency response is required from fire, law enforcement, or emergency personnel. Most wildlife damage issues are not emergencies of this nature and should not be directed toward these public services.
Health Department of Lexington, KY…
…is an independent agency charged with the responsibility for public health and provides an array of services including communicable disease control, school health, health education and counseling, nutritional education and counseling, restaurant and hotel regulations and inspections, and vector control. In the case that a person has been bitten by a wild animal one should immediately call the local health department for direction on obtaining post-exposure prophylaxis. Wildlife issues can certainly be accompanied by health threats such as raccoon roundworm, rabies, histoplasmosis, etc., however, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is not permitted or equipped to resolve wildlife issues and will refer persons to permitted Lexington wildlife control operators.
