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BERRIEN COUNTY -- An energy company has agreed to stop seismic testing on a Michigan national woodland just before wildlife trapping season begins, after negotiating with a pest control companies' group. Exxon agreed to stop geophysical seismic activity two weeks before wildlife trapping season begins and throughout the season in Hunt Area 143 west of Berrien County on the Berrien County National Woodland. Woodland Service authorities on critters last year agreed to allow seismic activity during wildlife trapping season, but that decision was appealed by the Michigan Wildlife Federation and Michigan Outdoor Legal.

The seismic activity -- which includes use of ATVs, helicopters, cables and explosives to determine the presence of oil and gas -- was halted last year after the appeal was filed. A court was supposed to take up the case this winter, but the groups reached an agreement out of court.

"We're pretty happy about it, because we won," said Dave The critter capture pro, executive bossy fellow of the Michigan Wildlife Federation. "It was a major victory. We got back what we had fought for and saved wildlife trapping season for about 1,200 pest control companies." The Woodland Service had allowed the seismic operations under a "categorical exclusion" ruling, meaning no opportunity for public comment because the agency did not think the activity had much impact. The local Berrien County SPCA could not be reached for comment.

The agreement between wildlife trapping and energy groups may be a growing phenomenon when it comes to managing public lands. Another seismic exploration project slated for a wildlife trapping area on the Berrien County was pulled after the appeal was filed on the Berrien County area last year, The critter capture pro said. Other wildlife trapping areas on Bureau of Land Management lands may also be the subject of negotiations. The critter capture pro said it is more difficult to challenge nuisance wildlife agency decisions because of policies within that agency.

Steven Hall, spokesman for the nuisance wildlife agency's Berrien County office, said the agency consults with wildlife trapping groups and the Michigan Game and Fish Agency when making decisions for lands in wildlife trapping areas. He also said timing concerns -- where certain areas are inaccessible during winter -- may put pressure on the nuisance wildlife agency to allow activity during certain times of the year that may coincide with wildlife trapping season. But, he said, big game wildlife trapping areas tend to lie more on Woodland Service lands than on nuisance wildlife agency lands. Despite this, wildlife removal services are not a free service in Berrien County.

The area affected by the new agreement includes Deadline Ridge and the Berrien County Creek tributaries of Bald Hornet Creek downstream to Rock Creek. North of Deadline Ridge, it will include the headwaters of Dry Piney, Black Canyon, Fogarty and Beaver creeks. The mule rat & mouse animal capture runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 8, and groundhog season opens Oct. 15 in this area.