Hello,

Have potential client that is getting a federal permit to terminate two woodpeckers. What is a good woodpecker trap?

Can't shoot them in Mass.

Thanks

Chuck

It is called the old Victor wooden rat trap. I prefer the old style but that's just me. The new ones with the big yellow pan work just

fine. Fill the V-notch with woodpecker suet, drill a small hole through the trap and screw it where ever the woodpeckers are pecking.

I prefer the pan on the bottom but I'm sure they'll probably work any way you attach them.

Make sure YOU have the paperwork in YOUR hand before starting.

What kind of turn around time are you all seeing on permits?
Got a vacant, most of the time, log home that is getting trashed right now.

My potential client I first spoke to her 11/16/14. I explained to her then that woodpeckers were federally protected and in order to terminate them you needed a permit.

She called me back on 1.5.15 and told me that they were expediting her permit and she would have it by 1.12.15.

We will see if she gets it then.

I like this, I just turned down a woodpecker job, they wouldnt have liked my prices anyway. I will have to talk to Fish and Wildlife about permits

Let the customer get the permits. We used to get them ourselves but it's so much easier to let the client do it. I don't know about

the rest of the country but we have no shortage of woodpeckers and none that I know of that are threatened or endangered. Once they

have your permit money, the government leaves you pretty much alone. I am sure that they approve of hiring a professional as opposed

to taking your shotgun and blowing your rain gutter in two, at 5 o'clock in the morning, in the middle of a subdivision.

Paul. I'm curious why you prefer having the customer get the permit?

I think it would be more credible to the fed's if the customers applies for the permit. Time is money and filling out paperwork that may not be approved will be a bill that would be hard to collect. JMO MTCAT, sorry but had to jump in on this one. Been there.

What Everet said and also you know that if the customer takes the time and money to get a permit, they usually have a more serious

problem and will be happy to pay you to get rid of it.

I fill the permit out on behalf of the customer, except their SS#, its all part of a package deal that includes:
1) Initial deterrent strategy (if applicable), most home owners have already attempted deterrents on their own prior to calling...
2) Permitting process, I've never been turned down on a permit
3) removal of birds
4) final repairs

Taking the permit application process in to my control allows me to ensure it is done correctly and I don't miss out on a large repair job because they couldn't fill it out properly. Its like insurance to ensure I don't miss out on the sale.

JMO

When i am on grey squirrel work, i catch a lot of greater spotted woodpeckers in the cage traps, obviously i release them.

Brian

I spoke with the Mass. Director of PAC's. He was very surprised that my potential client was going to receive a federal permit for her woodpecker problem.

Chuck

Im just as surprised as Mike...they are tough to come by...

And if your getting a permit to terminate...why can't you shoot them ?

I have NEVER been turned down on a permit...

Joe... maybe its in the city...

Maybe Chris...In Mass. you can shoot a pellet gun in someones yard, as long as you don't shoot over a road or Rairoad tracks.. In Mass. they will give you a permit, most of the time though the birds are long gone by the time you get it ! Oh...and a Mass. hunting license..

And where the permits come from is 10 minutes from my house...

I would say pellet guns are illegal in 99% of the locations we typically service. Ive never tried to shoot one before... but I would think trapping would be less time consuming? How long does it typically take to successfuly shoot one?

Don't ask me..i never have ever tried to terminate a woodpecker ..except for being a teenager walking around the woods! Im just saying, the use of pellet guns is available if we don't shoot over a road or railroad tracks