Critter Management, Inc. was founded in 1994 by its present owner Joe Maffo. Joe and his family are originally from Uhrichsville, Ohio and moved to Hilton Head Island in 1982. In 1983 Joe formed Central Maintenance, Inc., a company specializing in home and villa repair, major renovations, and general maintenance services. The company provided services for both individual homeowners and regime companies. Central Maintenance, Inc. was sold in 1994 and shortly afterward Critter Management was formed. Joe is widely known on the island and has gained national notoriety as an alligator wrangler. Joe is a regular visitor and instructor at island schools, plantation communities, and various civic organizations. He has invented several items involved with critter removal, trapping techniques, and critter prevention.
The day-to-day operations at the company are run by Billy Karijanian and Matt Kraycar. Billy (Joe's son-in-law) has been with Critter Management since its inception and handles all aspects of the company procedures and activities. He has an extensive background in business management, sales, and customer relations. Matt Kraycar is our staff Wildlife Biologist. He has an extensive degree in Wildlife Management from West Virginia University. During his schooling, Matt worked with the US Department of Fish and Wildlife on projects throughout West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The daily field-related activities and crew operations are headed by Vince Maffo (Joe's son). Vince joined the firm in 2000, prior to this, Vince owned a remodeling and landscape service company. He has extensive knowledge in all aspects of home repair and maintenance. Vince has two children, Joey Maffo Jr. (6) and Morgan Maffo (11). Morgan has received recognition for her alligator work; she has been wrangling gators with her grandfather since the age of seven. Morgan teaches other children and island visitors about gator habits and proper precautions.
Critter Management, Inc. is the oldest and largest company in the low country exclusively specializing in the removal and prevention of animals in homes and businesses. With a trained staff of over twenty and two full-time trappers, the company is able to provide emergency services and daily visual inspections on every animal-related project. The company has invented hundreds of techniques to "critter guard" structures and stands by its motto: Don't trust your home to anyone who says, "We do it just like Critter Management."
