About
The Humane Wildlife Control Association is a national, membership-based trade association dedicated to advancing humane, ethical practices in the wildlife services industry.
HWCA supports professionals and businesses committed to resolving human-wildlife conflicts through prevention, exclusion, non-lethal methods, and other science-based approaches.
Through industry standards, training and certification, advocacy, and public resources, we are working to advance a more humane and responsible wildlife services profession.
Our Mission
HWCA advances humane, ethical, and science-based solutions to human-wildlife conflicts by:
- Establishing industry standards for humane and ethical wildlife services.
- Promoting exclusion-based and poison-free practices as the foundation for resolving human-wildlife conflicts.
- Providing education, training, and continuing professional development for wildlife service professionals.
- Administering certification programs that recognize ethical, knowledgeable, and competent practitioners.
- Supporting research and innovation that advance humane and effective solutions to human-wildlife conflicts.
- Advocating for policies and practices that protect wildlife, advance humane solutions, and drive positive change within the wildlife services industry.
- Serving as a trusted resource for professionals, municipalities, policymakers, and the public.
What do we mean by Humane?
Offering humane wildlife services begins with an understanding the animal.
HWCA defines humane practices as those that are informed by a species’ natural history and behavior; minimize fear, stress, pain, and suffering; do not expose animals to sudden or extreme hazards; protect mothers and dependent young; and avoid unnecessarily displacing animals from their established home territories.
Humane solutions also address the conditions that created the conflict in the first place. Whenever possible, prevention, exclusion, habitat modification, and other non-lethal methods should be used to resolve conflicts and prevent them from recurring.
Being humane does not mean ignoring risks to people, property, or animals. It means addressing those risks thoughtfully and effectively while causing the least harm reasonably possible.
Humane is not simply an intention. It is a standard of practice.
Code of Ethics
Members of the Humane Wildlife Control Association are committed to conducting their work with integrity, professionalism, compassion, and respect for people, animals, and the environment.
HWCA members will:
- Place human safety and animal welfare at the forefront of their work.
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing their businesses and professional services.
- Treat clients and the public with respect, and conduct business honestly, courteously, and reliably.
- Be transparent about services, methods, risks, expected outcomes, and fees.
- Respect and protect clients' homes and property while performing professional services.
- Use prevention, exclusion, and non-lethal methods whenever possible to resolve human-wildlife conflicts.
- Avoid causing unnecessary fear, stress, pain, suffering, injury, or death.
- Protect mothers and dependent young and avoid practices that unnecessarily separate family groups.
- Treat every animal with compassion and respect, recognizing its intrinsic value and role in the ecosystem.
- Encourage compassion, understanding, and tolerance for wildlife among clients and the communities they serve.
- Represent their qualifications, services, and methods truthfully and make only claims that can be reasonably substantiated.
- Advance humane and ethical practices within the wildlife services profession and encourage others in the field to do the same.
Membership in HWCA represents a commitment not only to how wildlife services are performed, but to continually raising the standard of care within the profession.