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Is it legal to kill moles in Washington state?
Using a gun to kill moles is legal in Washington state, but only in areas where discharging a firearm is legal. Poisons are ineffective on moles, and gas cartridges are unreliable, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Is it illegal to kill moles?
It is legal to use one or more methods kill moles in almost every jurisdiction in the English-speaking world. Some methods, however, are prohibited in some locations, and some methods are prohibited almost everywhere.
Are moles protected animals?
Any foxes, moles and mink that you catch are protected under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Why farmers kill moles?
The soil they push to the surface gets into grassland silage fed to cows and sheep in winter months, potentially contaminating meat and milk with listeriosis bacteria. Which is why, until recently, 87 farms across the North of England paid Peter Brown to rid their fields of moles using the poison strychnine.
Is a mole vermin?
Moles are troublesome vermin that can cause many problems to farmers but, if their behaviour and habits are understood, farmers can eradicate their presence. The damage one mole can achieve is remarkable.
Is it legal to kill a mole in Washington State?
In Washington state in the northwestern United States, killing moles is encouraged but certain methods of trapping moles are prohibited. A law passed in 2000 bans the use of “body gripping” or “snap trap” mole traps. It is legal to own these traps and it is legal to sell these traps, but it is not legal to use them to catch a mole.
When was the use of mole traps illegal?
State authorities say use of the devices was outlawed by a 2000 initiative aimed at body-gripping traps. Mole traps, unlike mousetraps, weren’t exempted under the law, which was chiefly sold to voters as a move against traps that accidentally kill pets and maim wildlife.
Is it legal to use poison bait on moles?
There are also baits made with a compound called zinc phosphide that are much safer for the environment but which are only available to licensed pest control specialists. Except in Washington, D.C., poison baits are legal.
Is it legal to shoot a mole in the yard?
Discharging a firearm in your yard in city limits is an iffy proposition for getting rid of moles, but it is a sure-fire way of getting the attention of the police. If you simply must shoot moles, check with your local law enforcement authorities to make sure the use of firearms is legal.