Placer County

To perform duties involving wildlife management activities and the use of humane techniques directed at controlling wildlife damage, particularly that of predatory animals, when it conflicts with the County and its citizens health and safety; and economic interest. The work is primarily concerned with operations relating to cessation, alleviation or mitigation of problems created by carnivores, rodents, birds and other animals in urban or rural environments.

Receives direct supervision from the County Agricultural or Deputy Agricultural Commissioner/ Sealer and technical and functional supervision from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services Division District Supervisor.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Trap or otherwise capture or shoot wild animals that cause disturbances, damage to residential or personal property, livestock and agricultural crops, or that pose a health threat to the public or livestock.
• Select proper locations for trap lines; prepare scent and bait for capturing wild animals in accordance with standard operational procedures.
• Work and coordinate with public and private organizations engaged or interested in controlling damage caused by wildlife.
• Maintain and repair equipment used to mitigate wildlife damage. 
• Identify predator or rodent species by sight, sound, tracks, type of damage present; examine appropriate evidence and correctly identify damage situations and relate damage to appropriate wild animals/species.
• Record daily observations, sightings, activities or other events involving wild animals and report to supervisor.
• Perform site evaluation and implement integrated pest management techniques to reduce or eliminate damage caused by wildlife.
• Examine animal carcasses to determine feeding habits of wild animals and tabulating data collected; make studies and reports of damage done by wildlife.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: One year of experience hunting and trapping wild animals.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by courses in wildlife management or a related field.

Knowledge of:

• Wild animals of the region, including feeding, sleeping, hunting and mating habits, environment and general life cycles.
• Diseases and parasites affecting wild animals and/or transmitted by them.
• Methods and equipment, including snares, tools, traps, firearms and related equipment in animal and bird damage control operations.
• An integrated pest management approach that includes the use of both nonlethal and lethal management methods.
• Appropriate local, State and Federal laws and regulations and policies pertaining to animal damage control.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis while in the field, analyze damage caused by or evidence of wild animal presence; see long distances and hear animal sounds; interpret evidence and identify animal species; maintain awareness of safety at all times.
• On a continuous basis while in the field, walk, stand, climb, kneel, bend and crawl, or sit while driving equipment or operating boat.  Intermittently sit while studying or preparing reports; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation;  write or use a keyboard to communicate and lift very heavy weight.
• Effectively set traps and snares with regard to safety of domestic and range animals; attract wild animals with bait, scent or calls.
• Use and discharge of shotguns, rifles, side arms and other related equipment safely and accurately to control or destroy dangerous and/or injured wild animals, as a last alternative.
• Humanely perform euthanasia procedures to ensure safe treatment of wild animals in accordance with standard operational procedures including properly measure drugs and use hypodermic syringes for chemical restraint and euthanasia.
• Operate and perform minor maintenance on all equipment used in the field including firearms, traps and cages.
• Work effectively in stressful situations, exercise good judgment and make sound decisions under a variety of situations.
• Use various hand and power tools including shovels, rakes, axes and chain saws; operate all terrain vehicles and boats.
• Work effectively with hunting dogs as required.
• Act quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.
• Obtain information through interviews, deal firmly and courteously with the public and prepare appropriate reports as required.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Understand and follow written and oral instructions.