BELOW GROUND NO ONE HEARS THEM SCREAM
The Guild of British Molecatchers openly support and strive for a minimum level of welfare for moles whilst under the control from man.Its members fully agree to inspecting any devices placed a minimum of once per day to inspect for any possibly unnecessary suffering to the mole.Devices used against moles are required to be placed below ground and out of sight, suffering can and will occur and only with an inspection can any possible suffering be removed
If you employ someone to control a mole for you then you too can help to reduce any possible suffering with three simple wordsSEE YOU TOMORROW
STATEMENT RELEASED ON THE 27th JANUARY 2023 BY VAWM RESOURCES
VETERINARY ANIMAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
VAWM Position Statement on Mole-Catching ,23rd January 2023
1. The VAMW notes that under the small Ground Vermin Order 1958 , Spring traps used for catching moles in their runs are excluded from legislation requiring spring traps to be approved.
2. The Humane Trapping Standards Regulations 2019 , which institute in law the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards in Great Britain , do not extend to moles.The Regulations require the DEATH of the target animal within a time measured in seconds.
The VAWM calls upon the Government to consult on adding moles to the species the welfare of which is protected by these Regulations.
3. Recognizing that it may take time to find ways to protect the welfare of the moles by the above measure without compromising the efficacy of mole control ,the VAWM calls for IMMEDIATE statutory obligation for mole catchers to check their traps at intervals of not more than 25 hours.
if a device cannot be inspected tomorrow then it should not be placed today
There are NO excuses not to inspect a device if it has knowingly been placed
Basically the truth is this- There are those that will place a device for the capture of a mole and claim that to return the next day is not a workable practice????? Pest control offer other services where cages or mechanical devices are used and many of these are required to be inspected the next day- they accept this is a workable practice, there is no difference for the use of a device placed for a mole- Some will claim the mole will die instantly- unlike the devices used against other species, there are no devices currently available that will expire the life of a mole instantly. If there was then still they would be required to be inspected as the devices are out of sight and therefore without an inspection any suffering would still remain unknown. Unlike other devices or cages used against other species, devices used for moles are placed in a harsh environment and subject to many influences. Speak to your molecatcher about the return to inspect once they have placed any device/s and do not be fooled by feeble excuses.
The Guild members work to promote a minimum level of welfare for moles and are open and honest in the services they provide.
