Main Target Animals in your Biz

Second year in business so try not to ramble on too much. I do ADC work on the side of my full time job with for now until I get more business to take off. Just started doing google ads hopefully that will help. For you guys that have been around a while or new for that matter did you just say only handle 5 or 10 different animals to begin with? I started with the typical raccoons and opposums and moles, squrriels etc. I am good friends with the DNR in my area he just wants me to stick with the main fur bearing animals at this time which is fine with me. So I don't do anything with Bats, birds or reptiles, deer, livestock. Been thinking lately get rid of doing moles in biz and stick with just doing Raccoons, skunks, opposums, fox squrriels, woodchucks beaver, fox and coyote. Figure better to get good a few animals and then expand later. And yes I know I really should take some classes etc down the road to get trained on the other ones. Anyone here just do a handful of animals or even 2 or 3 and send everything else to competition? Thanks.

When I started I referred some jobs to my competitor, but often sought advice here or the other ADC sites and just went for it.

Thanks John that's what I've been doing so far.

Great question, and I say use a balanced approach. The more often that you tell a new customer that you cannot help them, the more you depict your business as limited and lacking competency. On the flip side, if you take jobs with animals that you have zero or very limited experience, and you provide substandard service, then that image will get out to the local public.

My suggestion is to make a ranked list of wildlife with those you feel are easiest to trap/address at the top. Look at your list and keep plugging away at the top ones to gain more experience and confidence. For those you have zero or limited experience, do your diligent research to learn more about the species and try to create opportunities to gain experience. You suggested taking class, great. Talk to friends and see if you can do some free trapping to try various traps/placements/baits. If a call comes in with a request to trap, explain that you are working to build expertise in trapping that particular species, and tell them you would consider adjusting the total bill if YOU are not satisfied with the end result. I remember doing this with deterring turkeys.

Its intimidating to take on a new species, but for my business I want to be in a position of offering services against as many local species as possible. It's challenging, but well worth it.

I only advertise for 2 species. I would rather drive 50 miles to get a raccoon out of an attic than ground trap a opossum someone saw in their backyard in my hometown. We are rather selective in the jobs that we do. I think it makes sense from a business perspective. It might make more sense for a part timer. I broke down my average revenue per job down by species. I really only want to pull an animal out of a home where there is an entry point and a chance at upselling repairs.

Thanks thats kinda what I've been doing get first time call on squrriels then get second and third job doing gets a little easier. I made a updated list on my business page mostly since using Google ads and dont want bad calls which have to pay for The more familiar animals what I do and dont do. I dont like to have people on phone if I cant help them feel bad..not sure good or bad to do that way just dont want them call and ask them kick them to someone else. I might pm you Joe if you dont mind see your in Iowa too.

I look forward to chatting. You're in western Iowa, I'm eastern. Maybe we can work a deal where I release my catches over on your side of the state, and you visa versa.

I must be old fashioned! I have nothing against picking up an opossum down the road for $50 on my way out of town. As a matter of fact, I've got one in the back of the van right now!

I'm in my 2nd real year. I think you are missing out on some jobs and your area may not support others. I started out doing beaver and coyote removal but bats take over come August. JMO. DNR in my area basically begged me to do bat work.

Bats are absolutely wonderful. The only thing we dont love doing is bedbugs. They're just skeevy. But it's a service people need.

For 25 years (before I retired from it) my forte' was groundhogs. We did all other animals too but my main was the groundhog. Charged a flat rate per job, not a per animal rate as we mostly used a disposable snaring system where we never saw nor handled the groundhog, he just died in the hole.

Had you posted a pic in another thread on snaring them. Or was that someone else I've like to try it sometime for groundhogs.

My DNR at least for now is limiting me on what they don't want me to do...not to say I couldn't get more knowledge and get qualified . But for now he says no Bats, Reptiles, Birds. So I keep the peace and follow that for now want to stay on the good side of him since he helps me line up jobs etc now on top.