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Tennessee has its share of rodents. Some people consider them a natural treasure, and some consider them a pest. A local wildlife trapper was interviewed: "I get a lot of calls from residents who hear rustling in the woods and assume people are trapping squirrel, rat, and rodent and it's illegal. It's not as long as exterminators have permission and they are trapping in season," he said. Although several species of wildlife roam Franklin, only a few, such as raccoons and squirrels and rats are considered pest wildlife, and only then, when they invade people’s homes.

The Tennessee Police will usually not respond to investigate when residents think they may have a problem. That’s up to private trapping companies. A local conservation officer who is a snake control expert is responsible for enforcing trapping regulations. Last Saturday, he toured a property with an unusually high amount of squirrel activity, and said he will continue to patrol the area but isn't concerned with what is going on. Tennessee has many species of wildlife, and it’s important to be able to identify Franklin snake species and mammals.

Tennessee Conservation Authority's property manager, who is a rodent control expert, has also been through the area. Like the conservation officer, this rodent control expert said he has few concerns with the trapping activity because it is not occurring on land owned by the Tennessee Conservation Authority. He also said that most trappers remember to treat the wild animals of Franklin, Tennessee, with respect and care.

"It looks to me as if the exterminators have taken great care to stay off our property and that satisfies me," said the rodent control expert. Tennessee has an abundance of wildlife, and Franklin is no exception.

Hunting - Special youth control on tap in Tennessee

Tennessee’ “big” deer season is approaching, and the kids will get first shot. The Tennessee Game and Fish Commission’s Special Youth Modern Gun program is set for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5-6, across the state. The only areas not open to young people on those days will be wildlife management areas where permits are required for wildlife hunting. This will give youth a better chance at success than they might have otherwise.

The rules are simple. Anyone under 16 years old can go on the hunt. He or she can take either a buck or a doe, and the limit for the two days is one animal per person. There is no restriction on antlers for bucks for this youth control. Zoning permits are not required. Several adults in Tennessee weren’t sure what to make of all this, but most applauded the initiative to get more youth active in hunting.

A key point in the rules for the youth hunting is that each youngster has to be accompanied by an “adult mentor,” not necessarily the child’s parent. If the child has completed a hunting and wildlife education course, he or she can take a shot from a reasonable distance away from the adult mentor who must be 18 or older. But if the kid does not have the certification, he or she must be under direct supervision of the adult at all times. The Davidson County Wildlife Control board in Franklin could not be reached for comment.