Podcast help owners learn about running a nuisance wildlife business

“Trap Talk Live” is hosted by Ryan Ridgley. LOGO: TALK TRAP LIVE

Ryan Ridgley is the creator and host of the “Trap Talk Live” podcast, which aims to help owners of small, independent companies learn about running a nuisance wildlife business.

Ridgley has decades of pest control experience. He and his wife, Kandace, own Huntsman Wildlife in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio, area, where they take on pests with “four legs and fewer.”

“I joke with my friends that I should have named the podcast ‘Learn from My Mistakes,’” Ridgley says with a laugh. “Because really, it’s just me having a discussion with a friend or colleague about something I ran into my first six years of Huntsman Wildlife. I know other operators are running into it, too, so let’s talk about it.”

General pest control does not interest this long-time professional, a mindset that has been good for business. “I have no desire to get my general pest control license in Ohio, which makes a lot of pest control companies in the area very comfortable referring work to us,” Ridgley says.

Ryan Ridgley leads discussions on the challenges and successes of running a small company. PHOTO: HUNTSMAN WILDLIFE

Singular success

After starting in turf and ornamental, Ridgley moved to general pest control 15 years ago, working for companies large and small. However, he was drawn to wildlife work because, as he puts it, “I’m allowed to practice my craft and be good at it without having to depend on the client to assist me.”

In 2019, he and Kandace launched Huntsman Wildlife. “I realized I wanted to try it my way and see what I could do about making an impact in the Cincinnati area when it comes to wildlife work,” he explains.
Success came swiftly, and the company has grown. “I’m able to offer jobs and be the leader and employer that I always sought out when I was looking for a job,” Ridgley says. “So, it has been both harrowing and rewarding all at the same time.”

The idea to share his knowledge with others came in 2020 when he kicked off the first “Trap Talk Live” podcast.

When his growing business got in the way of recording “Trap Talk Live,” Ridgley paused the podcast but picked it up again in 2024. Now, he has two sponsors — Animal Traps and Supplies and AAC Distributing — that offer wildlife control products and equipment and allow him to share discount codes with listeners.

Points of inspiration

Ideas for content come from his own experiences, and colleagues who work in pest management, wildlife control and related fields. Ridgley also gets ideas from online forums and groups on social media. When guests are invited on, the podcast sounds like a conversation among friends who are eager to share their knowledge.

“I’m not here to teach you how to prepare your company for an acquisition; there are dozens of podcasts for that,” he says. “I’m not here to tell you how to punch Monday in the face. I’m here to show you how to avoid the nightmares that come with situations like leasing/buying your first commercial building as your company grows.”

Ridgley wants listeners to learn from his experiences running a small, successful company. He also encourages listeners to reach out for help, especially if they are starting out, so they feel less alone.

“My goal is to let other independent operators know it’s OK not to want to grow to $15 million in five years and sell it to a private equity firm,” Ridgley says. “If you just want to own a wildlife company and take care of your community, that’s OK, too, and that’s what we’re here for.”