Sources of supply for materials and tools used in wildlife damage control are provided in an exhaustive list of manufacturers and retailers, including bird control devices, live traps, mole traps, rodent traps, snares, and leghold traps. Rodenticides, burrow fumigants, and animal repellents are listed by manufacturer/supplier.

The growing problem of wildlife damage in urban and suburban areas is discussed. Some tools and techniques useful in more rural areas are not appropriate for use in urban settings, because of potential nontarget hazards, potential complaints about noise, or other reasons. Control methods recommended in suburbia are often less effective, more time consuming, and more costly the methods used in rural or agricultural areas. Solutions to urban and suburban problems with rabbits and jackrabbits, pocket gophers, moles, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, skunks, opossums, raccoons, and bird are discussed.

Because of the increased concern for the environment and the public's positive action toward preservation of all forms of plant and animal life, future control methods for pest animals will require a greater degree of specificity than in the past. Vertebrate pest control does not face a very promising future unless the independent and cooperative effort of both industry and government is expanded. The time has passed when one could use a chemical simply because it was a good poison or repellent. Now, especially when food or feed crops are involved, it is necessary to know a lot more about a chemical than just its effect on the target species. Our knowledge now must include: 1) chemical and physical properties, including chemical structure, 2) micro-analytical methods for detecting or measuring the chemical, 3) degradation rates and resultant by-products, 4) oral and dermal toxicity (acute and chronic) to target and non-target animals, 5) efficacy as toxicant or repellent, 6) phytotoxicity, 7) pharmacology, and 8) secondary hazards. At present there is need for more chemists and pharmacologists in the field of vertebrate pest control research. Due to the comparatively small market for chemicals used in vertebrate pest control, most chemical companies are reluctant to spend the large sums necessary for their development. Also, a potential source of personnel for increasing this type of research is available at many state universities and experiment stations. Support from these institutions should be encouraged.

Methods for the control of problem opossums, bats, raccoons, and skunks are discussed. Basic biology of these animal species is provided. For the opossum, control methods include trapping, physical capture at night, or use of a strychnine formulation injected into eggs. The presence of bats in homes or other structures is a concern due to their potential infection with rabies. Bat biology and behavior is summarized, and bat-proofing of structures is recommended as a technique. Bats repellents for use in attics or other closed spaces are discussed. In some situations, professional fumigation of a structure to kill bats is needed, but it has several disadvantages and does not provide a permanent solution. Raccoon biology is summarized. When numerous, they can cause economic damage to gardens and crops and are especially destructive to corn fields. Raccoon trapping using a variety of traps and types of trap sets is described in detail. Exclusion of raccoons is possible by adding a single wire strand electrified by a fence charger to an existing fence. Where raccoons cause extensive damage to crops, they can be controlled using strychnine baits; formulas and instruction for strychnine-egg baits and strychnine-corn baits are provided. Skunk biology and behavior is summarized. Preventing their entry into structures is preferred over skunk destruction, as they have beneficial aspects by eating mice and insects. Techniques for excluding skunks are described in detail, including exclusionary methods to keep them out of poultry houses. Insecticides properly applied to lawns will reduce skunk damage to turf by eliminating insect and grub food sources. Methods to trap skunks are described, as are techniques and a formula for making strychnine-egg baits to kill skunks.