Got a call to subcontract out for trapping services for a hydro utility provider. Anyone do this?

Looking for the right questions to ask, its all cage trapping, mostly groundhogs and racoons.

Some specialized safety precautions involved from the brief conversation I had due to the location/transmission lines. Sounds like substations are the big one.

Anyone in this field can steer me in the right direction, help me look a bit smarter than I am would appreciate it!

Find out how far you have to drive, it might be quite far, and what the payment terms are. They may settle their bills longer out than you would prefer.

Balance the time you’d spend each day on that job vs how much you’d make servicing local jobs.

Security issues. Some sites may fall under whatever passes for Homeland Security up there.

That may mean background checks or federal sniffing around. Also might mean certain tools can't be brought on site.

Down here we got conflicting issues between state, federal and local.

For instance state requires a certain tool to be in possession and use it as the only means for dispatch. Federal property it becomes a federal crime to do so. In many local areas discharge is a crime.

Thanks, have the billing sorted at an hourly rate, includes travel there and back. Billing/payment would be set at 30 days and then interest charged on remaining amount owed after 60 days.

Thanks, this is a great point and will bring it up. All trucks need to be unmarked, with no business stickers on them. As well all dispatch needs to be off site.
One of my clients is the Ontario Nuclear agency so should be able to roll my Security Clearance over from it but will confirm.


Anyone ever trap these areas and have specific questions to ask about PPE, Arc flash, non metal traps, etc?

One good thing working for agencies with links to power is often workarounds are allowed that the rest of us would get jammed up for if we did it for the private sector.

I don't think it's right as an American where we the people still believe in equality for all under rule of law but it is what it is.

Just do your best to CYA in everything and wherever possible get it in writing.

Good issue. I did a contract with power Co and some sites I had to have an escort.

I hate having an escort. Just cramps my style altogether. Especially when sizing up a job. I want to be able to "read" a site and take my time to study on just what is going on without distractions or being told what they think is happening.

That and you just know the escort just can't help themselves at peeking at your sets.

But it is what it is so charge enough to make it worth the trouble, lol.

So if your one and only truck is lettered up, you can't bid the job? I guess that would solve the other issues.

Tally in the cost of a rental. I'm sure an unmarked vehicle can be acquired.

Though that raises another question. What jurisdictions require marked vehicles?

Here in Georgia we don't for wildlife but pest control does.

Only trap beaver for OPG.They were the client that required the federation to increase the liability insurance from 2 million to 5 million,several years ago.
Only had one call for skunk removal at the canyon several years ago at the resthouse.The cook got sprayed taking out the garbage,lol.
Had to do some railroad work around a transformer station.Everything had to be insulated because of induced electricity in the rails.

Thanks guys, everything went as expected.

Appreciated the points you all had to bring up.

Specific for this was the dura-poly/plastic cage traps where to be used.
High vis, fire retardant clothing.


The rest was like any corporate job. There is one step-up in transmission sites where you need to wear a special rubberized suite the site manager was telling me. I hate electricity so quoted him a price that would pay for a two week vacation in Europe. I hope he passes and the wife is hoping he takes it.