WCO class February 29th in Olympia

[Humptulips]

I copied and pasted this but a couple things I will add.
 First it says you need this WCO permit in order to harass, kill, trap, release, or dispatch animals causing damage to private property. That is not 100% true but you do need the permit if you wish to charge for your services.
Second I will just remind people that to be eligible for the permit you need to be legally able to possess a firearm. If you cannot legally posses a firearm it would be waste of time and $50 to take the class.

This is to inform you that there will be a Wildlife Control Operator course available on 29 February 2016. The class will be held at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Headquarters building in Olympia from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in room 175 on the first floor.

This class is only for those who are already in possession of their Washington State Trappers Certification. Please provide proof of certification upon the day of training. Every person performing WCO outlined activities for compensation must first obtain a Washington Trappers Certification by passing the Trapper Test. Study materials for the Trapper Test can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/pub.php?id=00513.

If you would like to attend, please provide your information by clicking the link below and filling in the included questions. All reservation requests must be received by 11:00 pm on 25 February 2016.

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WCO_Olympia

   You will be asked to include your name, current address, current phone number, and trappers Certification Number. For businesses with multiple employees, please enroll each person individually. This information will be used to enter you into the database and for verification purposes. Upon completion of the questionnaire, you are confirmed for the class.

Each attendee will be required to pay the enrollment fee of fifty dollars ($50) for certification training/education prior to class attendance. Payment must be made on the day of training at the Olympia office. Once a person completes WCO certification training, he or she must apply for the certificate in order to harass, kill, trap, release, or dispatch animals causing damage to private property.

For more information, please visit the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/nuisance/how_to_become_wco.html 

Directions to the Olympia Fish and Wildlife offices:

From the North:

1. Head south on I-5 S toward Exit 105   

2. Take exit 105 toward State Capitol/City Center/Port of Olympia   

3. Take exit 105A on the left toward State Capitol/City Center   

4. Merge onto 14th Ave SE 

5. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Jefferson St SE   

6. Turn left onto 11th Ave SE   

7. Turn left onto Washington St SE

Destination will be on the left

From the South:

1. Head north on I-5 N toward Exit 104 

2. Take the exit toward State Capitol/City Center

3. Merge onto 14th Ave SE 

4. At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Jefferson St SE

  5. Turn left onto 11th Ave SE   

6. Turn left onto Washington St SE

Destination will be on the left

Thank you 

WDFW

Wildlife Program Special Trapping

[Kit Carson]

Thank you Bruce! 

[Humptulips]

I just talked to them this afternoon and they said they were not implementing the new WCO rules that came out in the WACs passed last year until March 1. One of those rules required two years experience trapping before you could get a WCO permit. With the class before that date and the permit being written afterwards you might want to check if that applies if you do not have two years experience.
I had thought that was in effect as of January 1.

[-Trap_addicT-]

 I attended the WCO class in Spokane on January 14 this year and Candace Bennett (class instructor) checked that everyone in the class had their two years of experience before she started. Fortunately everyone did, but I don't believe she would've allowed someone to take the class if they didn't.

[Trapper John]

I just talked to them this afternoon and they said they were not implementing the new WCO rules that came out in the WACs passed last year until March 1. One of those rules required two years experience trapping before you could get a WCO permit. With the class before that date and the permit being written afterwards you might want to check if that applies if you do not have two years experience.
I had thought that was in effect as of January 1.

I attended the WCO class in Spokane on January 14 this year and Candace Bennett (class instructor) checked that everyone in the class had their two years of experience before she started. Fortunately everyone did, but I don't believe she would've allowed someone to take the class if they didn't.

Here is my problem with this whole "requirement of two years experience in trapping"

"Who" decides  if you have two years?
Two Years ............. Is that two full years ..........365 days per year times two years or 730 days ?   
"OR" if your a new first time trapper and you went out trapping for two weeks this year and last year you only trapped one week, only caught a possum and a feral house cat, Does this qualify a person for that two years of experiences ?     It's not just trapping.

To get your WCO Certificate it says:
WAC 232-36-060  ~  Director or his/her designee is empowered to grant wildlife control operator certifications

For purposes of training individuals to assist landowners with employing nonlethal management techniques, or to harass, kill, trap, release, and dispatch animals that are causing damage to private property, the director or his/her designee may issue wildlife control operator (WCO) certifications.
(1) To qualify for WCO certification, applicants must:
(a) Be at least eighteen years of age;
(b) Take and complete the department's WCO certifications course;
(c) Be certified by the department and have the equipment, knowledge, and ability to control the wildlife species causing conflict or property damage;
(d) Be legally eligible to possess a firearm and without a felony or domestic violence conviction including, but not limited to, convictions under chapter 9.41 RCW, unless firearm possession rights have been restored;
(e) Not have a gross misdemeanor fish and wildlife conviction within the last five years; and
(f) Pay the enrollment fee for each certification training/education. After July 1, 2010, this fee shall be fifty dollars (RCW 77.12.184) per certification.
(2) Once a person is granted WCO certification, he or she must apply for a permit pursuant to WAC 232-36-065 in order to harass, kill, trap, release, or dispatch animals causing damage to private property.


#1 (c)  Be certified by the department and have the equipment, knowledge, and ability to control the wildlife species causing conflict or property damage;

My question here is "Where does one get this experience" ?  Where does one get the  knowledge, and ability to control ?

I ran a WCO Business for 30 years.  With this statement "I can't hire you unless you have these requirements."  When a company hires you, they want you ready to go.  They don't want you as a passenger on the other side of the truck learning.  They want to teach you how their office works and how you talk to their customers.  They want you up and running.  You need to show up with the knowledge, I shouldn't have to train / teach / show you.  Even if I thought that your the guy I want and I will put the time and money into you ........... "I can't hire you because you can't get a permit unless you already have these requirements."

And it says you have to have "The Equipment" ............ what kind of equipment???  For what animal???  Is there a one size fit all trap or some other devise that works on all animals from a mouse to a beaver???  When you go into Business, you'll purchase some basic equipment but you don't know what you will need until you get that problem that your standard equipment can't handle.  So here what equipment are they talking and "Who" decides on the equipment "They" think you need?   

Where are you get to get the knowledge to run a business and knowledge of each species to qualify to the WDFW wants?

I think this two year thing is going to limit you on starting you own business or working for a WCO company.  (Maybe that is what the department wants)     It is going to limit people of getting their permit / certificate.  This rule has got to go away for everybody sake including the Department.

JC    

[Humptulips]

I attended the WCO class in Spokane on January 14 this year and Candace Bennett (class instructor) checked that everyone in the class had their two years of experience before she started. Fortunately everyone did, but I don't believe she would've allowed someone to take the class if they didn't.

Thanks, Good to know.

I will say this about the two years experience. In the Departments eyes you have two years experience if you have had a trapping license for two years. Doesn't have to be a WA trapping license, any will do but if you have out of state licenses you should be ready to show them.
Also they will allow you to work with an established WCO as in a close working relationship like as an employee. They also will wave the requirement if another WCO vouches for your experience. Probably require a signed affidavit.

WSTA was against all that. None of that guarantees you are going to know what you are doing. A person could be trapping for 40 years and have zero experience with the problem animal on your first call. IMO the entire "experience qualifier" is worthless.