Mike I have to disagree with you on that one.

I think the operators in Wisconsin are great how we are willing to share not only techniques and experiences but also jobs and referrals with each other.

I spend more time on the phone or meeting up and talking with other operators in my service area than I do most of my friends or family.

I also enjoy the calls and PM's I get from operators in other States who have questions or need some advice.

I don't think this Industry is anything like the old days of fur trapping. If nobody wanted to share this forum wouldn't be here.

But I do agree with you 100% about finding someone you can trust for advice.

Its what I ment to say, as far as networking( Great people out there) But as far as legal advice, take it with a grain of salt. There are very few people on the planet who I dont cross check when laws are an issue.Sorta like whats his name and the whole "cant do bats at all during the maternal period" Does he realy believe that? Or is he trying to keep the competition off balance? I have a hard time accepting that he wouldn't know the letter of the law, since he was supposed to be so involved in the writing of it. And then try to come here to say we read it wrong.

Don't get me wrong, I don't even own a bat trap,because using exclusion devices is easier.Not because I care about a bat living or dying. I protect my own species first. Sealing up from the inside of the home is just something to put off a customer till later.(That's not effective, or what I call customer service)

In the past week I have received lots of phone calls and PM's about this discussion by many that have been following it. We really do have a great group of operators in The Midwest that have shared methods and ideas with others that they can trust. It's like a brotherhood where most get along well and even give work to others that is outside of their area or if they are just too busy.Most have asked though, where is it that anyone ever stated that we 'can't do bats at all during the maternal period'. They just can't find it but do see an open discussion by the majority agreeing to obey what the WDNR has decided on. Nate made an interesting and accurate point in his posting on 6/15 that we will need a permit to remove bats during this time, and that is true, and in his post 6/16 he mentioned enforcement which is also true. In another 6/16 post it was stated that no permit is needed . The explaination is found under the 'Broad Incidental Take Permit laws' where the homeowner will apply for authorization, be reviewed and then possibly issued the permit.
(s. 29.604, Wis) The enforcement that some in this thread mentioned was most likely against those that did exclusions without having the homeowner apply for the permit.(Incidental Take Permit)..
Bat Conservation International, The National Wildlife Federation, Bat Conservation of Wisconsin and most conservation groups around the world recommend sealing up the inside of a home as being the 'most effective way' to keep bats from coming inside during this critical time. Thousands of satisfied customers also state that internal sealing of their home gave them peace of mind and took care of an ongoing problem till the exclusion could be done.
The WDNR has an online chat expert to answer any unclarified questions you may have about what you are told you can or cannot do. dnr.wi.gov/chat/expert.html It is available every other Wednesday.

Michael J Bakke
WISCONSINBATSPECIALISTSINC.com. (since 1979)

The permit isn't one which needs approval or which can be denied, It is for the home owner to fill out within 5 days AFTER the fact. If you don't know what you are talking about, just call them and have the enforcers of the rule read it to you. This is a brand new form, about a month old.

Hello Mike,
I am holding it in my hand now and it is dated June 2012---That's more than a month old when the math is done right. I not only call them, (Paul, Heather, Jennifer, and Melissa) but have them on speed dial and meet with them ocasionally thruout the year. There are still customers out there that are waiting to have their work done that have not applied for the permit and you should know that because of a job you were fired from on Monroe st. in Madison for doing exclusions during the shut down without the permit. You seem to be challenging the law, the permit and those that enforce it with almost every 'Flaming' post you make. Now you at least admit that there are enforcers of it. The form may have been updated a month ago but the principal is the same as when it was written and compares to those written by some of my colleague's across the U.S.

Michael J. Bakke. . www.WisconsinBatSpecialistsInc.com. . (since 1979)

Actually Michael, I'm shooting video at that exact location next week, I'll be posting it on YOUTUBE and I'll drop the link here for sure! Funny how Karma works isn't it? And I've still got that crazy letter you sent me last year too. You remember, the one where you think the DNR tapped my phone, and have a tracking device on my truck? You are a real HOOT!
If you worked as hard getting work for your crew as you do trying to trash talk others, and feed misinformation to people, they wouldn't have anything to worry about. Customers aren't as dumb as you think they are. As soon as you start trash talking the competition, they smell a BULL SNORT. After all the times you called the DNR on me, don't you think I would have been busted? Every time you do it though, I make a new friend! Most of my competition are my friends, I would do anything for them. But here we are, me and you, on this stupid forum, trying to show everyone who the wise guy is. Ive got bats to kick out of houses in La Crosse tomorrow. Im going to bed.

Mike---flaming, flaming, flaming. Actually, this will be my last post on this site because it actually allows so much flaming. You and I both know that you will NOT be at that exact site to do any video because another company signed a contract with the homeowner for about $600/700 and not the $2,000 you charged them and they didn't use scare tactics with the customer. You probably will shoot some video somewhere and post it to try to make people believe you just like you have always done with everything you post, but it won't be at that house. The letter I sent you last year was to remind you of what could be done by law enforcement people if you continue doing what you are and in the unethical way you are doing it. You may think I called the WDNR on you but I haven't and was only alerted to 2 instances days after the fact by two other pco's and just a few of the many that are trash talking you. All those many other times you claim that you have been turned in to them or the police, I am not aware of but it is apparent that there are plenty of people out there that have a problem with you and the way you operate. Almost every site you are listed on has a very negative complaint about you by 1 or more customers plus you have an F rating with the BBB and Angies list won't even consider your application. I was just PM'd this morning by one of those that you think is your friend to look at your profile on ( mugshots.com) and I might look at
that another time. I do invite everyone that has been following this thread to check out both of our companies, both of
our reputations, and all of our customer comments on every site we are listed on and then they can make their own
decision.

Michael. J. Bakke. www.WisconsinBatSpecialistsInc.com. (since 1979)
decisions.

Come on now guys...ya'll can do better.

Dave, I can understand that this stuff must drive the rest of you crazy but as a Wisconsin operator I find this whole bat thing interesting and also informative. I tend to always think that I know everything but every once in a while I need to just shut-up and listen. ( Or read, as the case may be )

Not to start a wirlwind but with all the posts I have been reading I have a question...........

Hey MJB, with all your great advertizing I looked at your website and I am wondering why you have a logo at the bottom of your homepage for the Sierra club?

Why do you promote anti trapping organizations?

http://www.trapperpredatorcaller.com/article-index/sierra-club-considering-anti-trapping-policy
http://www.ussportsmen.org/antis/sierra-club-sets-anti-trapping-policy-2/

MJB I can back up everything Mr Flick has said on a number of homes. BTW it is possible to buy an A grade from the BBB with enough $$ . I give the BBB the same amount of credibility that I give our commander in chief.

The BBB has lost its clout and so called lofty position as far as I am concerned many years ago. It carries no weight for any reason in my professional experience and opinion. They insist on calling us on a regular basis in an attempt to sell us their program. Some folks just wont take no for an answer.

Like with many business's the more you pay the more favorable your standing can be.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/business-bureau-best-ratings-money-buy/story?id=12123843

MJB how does it feel to be rated right along with Terrorists !!!

I would have to strongly disagree on Terror Group ratings. There is nothing scarier than a terror group that gets a D or F rating from the BBB. They can't pick the right targets, their bombs go off prematurely, they get on the wrong aircraft, their guns are hanging out all over, they're just a sloppy looking bunch of would-be assassins. Are these the type of people you want to have operating in your neighborhood?

Paul, I would have to agree afterall Hamas is one of the oldest in the biz and have tackled some of the larger and well known projects in that industry. I would expect them to have a good BBB rating.

An interesting twist to this thread .

LACROSSE WI

A La Crosse business man confessed to police he stole a rare mandolin appraised at $225,000 from an elderly blind woman.

Michael Bakke, 62, turned himself in Monday and was arrested for felony theft. La Crosse police say the value of the property makes the theft charge a felony.

The woman hired Bakke to remove a bat from her home in early June, according to a La Crosse police report. Bakke is the owner of Wisconsin Bat Specialists.

http://www.news8000.com/news/la-crosse-b...7l/-/index.html

LOL WOW

He stole it, to sell at auction, to "help" her - [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot]!!!!

I wonder if his. A+ rating with the bbb will
Help him now lol! What a joke