Dag-gummit!

How are you supposed to build a wildlife business when your friends and family don't even think to call you when there's a problem?

A lady from my church post picture after picture on Facebook of her wildlife encounters. She can't keep the rabbits from eating up her garden. She keeps loosing cat food to possums. 5 snakes killed in her back yard just this season, and it's only May. Does she call me?.... Noooo!... Her neighbor across the street gets all the glory for chopping a snakes head off with a shovel, but he does NOTHING to keep them away!

A buddy of mine from the plumbing supply house tells me of a squirrel he knocked out of his pecan tree. I guess he was looking a pat on the back.

My own Scout Master from my son's Cub Scout pack says I'd be proud of her for killing a Cotton Mouth in her back yard. There were two that I know of from last season.

Another friend of mine, who is a roofer, saws through a bunch of bats while cutting a hole in a roof but doesn't think to call me to get the rest out.

One of my best friends wants me to loan him some of my traps so that he can get the squirrels out of his sisters attic! Not to mention, wants me to tell him what the best bait is and show him how to set them up!

And that's just the trouble I'm having with FRIENDS!!

I got a call from one lady who tells me up front that she isn't going to pay me. Then wants me to recommend to her someone who will do my job for FREE!!!

I had a message written down in my appointment book, from a lady at a local church that says, "Snakes.... Wants free service". I mean, does she even EXPECT me to call her back?

Another one from another lady who wants me to remove a coon from her back yard but tells me up front, "I can't pay you."... Huh?... Then. I'm sorry! I can't help you!

One, who spoke to my wife about a bobcat, even got angry when she found out that I have to charge for my services and cussed out my wife over the phone! ...Yeah! ... I'm REALLY in a hurry to help this woman out!

And these last 4 calls were just a few of the "No Go" calls I've gotten JUST THIS WEEK!!

How do the rest of you guys handle this kind of thing? Don't it ever just make you want to go outside and break somethin'?

I tell ya.... The more I deal with people, the better I like critters!

That's the problem with rural/semi-rural adc work.

Farther you go from the city, the harder it is for that pocketbook to open up.

I was raised in rural Indiana. I am now living in New Hampshire. When I told friends back home in Indiana that I was starting an ADC business they looked at me like I was stupid. Who's going to pay you for trapping beavers and removing squirrels. Well, back where I am from the farmers take care of it themselves or their boys or girls do.

Chuck

With a grain of salt and patience.

I've taken so many grains of salt now, my blood pressure is up!

Muddawg, I'd reevaluate your networking circle because if these folks know you do this type of work and didn't think of you when a problem arose, there could be a problem or an honest mistake and didn't think to call.

My best friends and my pastors/church property i take care of....other than that all in my church know it is my job and when they contact me...they know they get a friends/family discount but there will be a charge...at church and to my non trapping friends...they all call me "trapper"....many still dont know my real name

And i need to say this...i do not go to church there to get leads...if someone says something to me there....i get their number quickly and end the conversation about the problem as will call them during biz hours

Have to find your way into the richer communities. People that pay 75 a week to get their lawn mowed. I get referrals from a pest control company. They have over 1500 clients setup biannually at 250 per visit. Those referrals call to schedule, not ask how much.
I dont get much work from friends or family.
I know we always talk about internet marketing. That is one of my criticisms about IM. Its not very discerning in customer selection. Try getting in with pest companies, lawn services that might see moles, and other service industries where the services are discretionary, not necessary or emergency. Then you will be targeting people with money.

We're suppose to get paid? I knew I was doing something wrong. Especially when the raccoon job I started yesterday the lady said the corporate ADC operator wanted $380 to come and set for her raccoon. I'm sure he was going to inspect too. Yep did that. It's a raccoon,

I lost a skunk job to the local police just now...seems one came out and shot it a couple times, problem is he left it still alive. The guy that owns the property wanted to know what to do now....I told him to call Barney Fife back, tell him to get another bullet and kill the dang thing. He said he did that, and they were sending another officer out to try and kill it.. You just can't make some of this stuff up.

Albert,

Since starting this urban suburban realm I've been constantly amazed at the variety of civil servants who will come and get involved in a variety of wildlife issues. Skunk, bat, or chasing coyote through city limits with sidearms drawn! I can picture it but I couldn't imagine it, and these are not bite cases but simple "I just looked out and saw a coyote."

At least Barney only had one bullet on his belt to get himself in trouble with.

I can only imagine the hours of paperwork those two officers filled out over discharging their weapons.
I had a great one, years ago in the middle of winter with a lot of snow on the ground. An elderly lady had a skunk In her yard she wanted removed. I told her a price, she balked a little bit and asked how much if it was dead. I was feeling generous that day, and never really thought it would amount to anything, so I told her if it had been dead, I'd pick it up for 99.00 plus tax. She said thank you , and hung up. An hour later the phone rings, she said I could come get my dead skunk now. I thought she was kidding, so I asked what happened ? She called the Troopers, and one responded and shot it, at least 5 times. When I got there the whole neighborhood stunk, and it looked like a massacre from all the blood on that white snow...I just shook my head, got what was left of my skunk, and a check....told her thank you for calling, and have a great day. Some days your the windshield, some days your the bug....

x2. Your current "customers" suck.

Although I was involved in nearly the same type of skunk call that Albert posted, years ago, my how things have changed. I fully

expect that one of these days I'm going to get a call from one of our fine police officers and that it's going to go something like

this: "Paul, I'm chasing this bank robber on foot and he took a shot at me. I'd like to shoot back but you know how much paperwork is

involved. Could you bring your gun and come over and fire a few shots in his direction? I'd be eternally grateful!"

P.S. Muddawg, 17 years ago I sold my home and moved an hour closer to customers who could afford to get rid of their animal problems.

bjansma hit the nail right on the head with a bulls eye.

If you want to increase your per capita in mole work particularly, spend some time speaking with landscape companies, individuals/sole proprietors and lawn care outfits and you will have more work then you can handle. In a short while you will run out of traps and time in each day to set and run equipment.

We pay 10% for every job sold via a referral on the gross bid amount of each job. Cant find a better reference tool then thru these folks.

Good ideas to keep in mind.

Thanks guys!

I'm wit' ya, dawg!
I have an acquaintance (thought he was a friend, but that's a special category for me) for whom I did quite a bit of free trapping. He now traps for others or "shows them how", cutting me out of income. The funny part is, he releases animals at the nearest creek!
...but to answer your question, I act shocked, pause for a second, then say very firmly "This is the way I make a living. Yes, I charge; as long as I have to pay for gas, electricity, groceries, etc., I have to charge my customers."

Dave, we are trappers; no gas. covered wagon or boat. No electricity; fire made by striking flint together. Groceries? we live off

the land; lots a wild game and water. Okay, you got me. I don't know how to explain away the smartphones.

It sucks but you just can't expect people to pay for something they do themselves, like the snakes. If you change your own oil, you cut someone out.

Some people don't get it though. A guy I ran I to from high school asked how business was going, I tol him moles and gophers were keeping me,busy.

He laughs and says "we), you know I got my own way of dealing with problem animals". Alluding to shootin them. Yeah, good luck shooting moles