Water Trapping Course

The National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA) Certified Professional Water Trapping Course is designed to provide wildlife control operators with the knowledge and practical skills needed to successfully manage aquatic wildlife conflicts and add profitable water trapping services to their businesses. Developed by NWCOA Master Instructors, this training combines classroom instruction with hands-on field experience to provide practical, real-world training for wildlife professionals.

Participants will gain an understanding of the biology, behavior, damage identification, and management of key aquatic wildlife species, including beaver, muskrat, nutria, river otter, and mink. The course also establishes professional standards and best practices for wildlife control operators performing water trapping and aquatic wildlife management services.

Important: Certification requires successful completion of the online training, certification examination, and attendance at the required hands-on field training session.

Course Topics

Aquatic Wildlife Management

• Aquatic Wildlife Management Overview

• Species Identification and Damage Assessment

• Site Evaluation and Management Planning

• Regulatory Considerations

• Customer Relations and Service Opportunities

Beaver Management

• Beaver Biology and Behavior

• Habitat Selection and Population Dynamics

• Management Principles

• Benefits and Complexities of Beaver Dam Removal

• Beaver Exclusion Devices

Muskrat, Nutria, River Otter, and Mink Management

• Species Biology and Behavior

• Habitat Use and Identification

• Damage Recognition

• Management and Control Techniques

• Species-Specific Trapping Considerations

Water Trapping Techniques

• In-Water Sets

• Crossovers

• Slides

• Castor Mound Sets

• Increasing Set Selectivity

• Trap Placement Strategies

Equipment and Safety

• Water Trapping Safety

• Tools of the Trade

• Trap Types and Components

• Anchoring Systems and Techniques

Business Operations

• Building a Water Trapping Service

• Professional Standards and Best Practices

• Pricing, Customer Communication, and Project Management

Course Structure

The Certified Professional Water Trapping Course consists of two required components:

Day One – Classroom Training
Participants will receive comprehensive instruction on aquatic wildlife biology, behavior, management strategies, trapping techniques, safety considerations, equipment selection, customer relations, and business operations.

Day Two – Hands-On Field Training
Participants will travel to an active water trapping site where they will apply the concepts learned in the classroom under the supervision of NWCOA instructors. The field session includes hands-on experience with traps and equipment, site assessment techniques, and demonstrations of common aquatic wildlife sets and management methods. Participants may observe examples of in-water sets, crossovers, slides, castor mound sets, beaver exclusion devices, and other real-world applications used by professional wildlife control operators. Because the field portion is conducted outdoors and may involve walking through uneven or wet terrain, participants should dress appropriately for expected weather and field conditions.

Certification Information

This course is designed to establish NWCOA's professional standards of practice for aquatic wildlife management and water trapping while promoting safe, ethical, and effective wildlife control methods throughout the industry. NWCOA's goal is to be recognized by wildlife agencies, regulatory officials, and industry professionals as a leading source for technical and professional standards in wildlife conflict management.

Upon successful completion of the online course, certification examination, and required hands-on field training, participants will:

• Earn the NWCOA Certified Professional Water Trapping designation

• Receive one certification credit toward the Certified Wildlife Control Professional (CWCP) program

• Receive a certificate of completion

• Be authorized to use the certification logo in their marketing materials

Certification is valid for five (5) years from the date of completion. Recertification is required every five years to maintain certification status.