Animal Damage Control

James Schmerker: A Wild Life

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

DISCOVERY BAY — For James Schmerker, a career in wildlife control grew out of an innate fascination with animals and nature. “I’ve always been interested in wildlife,” he affirms. “I spent most of my childhood trapping and catching animals. I had all the nature field guides and wanted to be a ranger when I grew up.” In addition to fauna, James gained experience with flora. “My dad had a nursery license, so I learned about plants as well as animals. I later got into landscaping, which I enjoyed, but I eventually decided to start my own wildlife control business. With my background and interest, it just seemed like the best fit for a career.”

Today, as owner of Animal Damage Control, James says his favorite part of his job is taking on challenging situations. “I enjoy handling problems that are a little more complicated than just catching a rodent in a trap, like capturing a rattlesnake in a cellar. Birds can also be challenging. The smarter the animal, the more difficult they are to capture, so that keeps things interesting.”

When he’s not working, James spends most of his time, unsurprisingly, outside. “I enjoy hiking, fishing and just being outdoors. I also spend a lot of time working in my garden—I’m constantly messing about with pruning and planting.”

In regard to a professional philosophy, James expresses his care for the humane treatment of animals. “I’ve seen a lot of people make bad decisions about how to handle animal control problems. Like, a homeowner hears a noise in their chimney and starts up the fireplace. I’d much rather see things done properly and humanely. There’s almost always a way to solve the problem without harming the animal, and that’s how I approach every job.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, James says he’d grab a pole and head to the water. “I used to fish a lot with my dad—there’s a spot around the Delta where we’d always go. These days, I spend so much of my life working, so that’s something I’d like to do more often.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What was your first pet?
A: A hamster named Hampy.

Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: Beef jerky.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Japan.

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: I’m an early bird.

Q: What’s your favorite season?
A: Spring. It’s probably the most dynamically interesting part of the year. Everything is breeding, being born and returning to life.