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Is it legal to kill moles in Washington state?

Jim Brown

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.

Is it legal to kill moles in Washington state?

Jim Brown

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.

Are there moles in Seattle?

Moles inhabit moist, highly organic soils throughout western Washington and Oregon, as well as isolated areas of central and eastern Washington and Oregon. Their need for soft soil to tunnel in and sources of worms and grubs makes them frequent pests of cultivated turf and some landscape plantings.

Do moles live in the PNW?

In the Northwest, moles are more common west of the Cascades [5] and in areas of California with moist soils [6].

Why are moles protected in Washington state?

While moles are unclassified, meaning that people may trap or kill them on their own property when they are causing damage to crops, domestic animals, or property, traditionally used mole traps are illegal in Washington State due to their body-gripping design.

Can I shoot a mole?

While a shotgun blast will indeed kill a mole, and possibly rupture a water line or a gas main or ricochet back to the shooter, firearms are an inefficient way to kill moles—the shooter has to be in position at exactly the right spots for hours on end waiting for the animal to surface—and most cities do not permit …

Can you drown a mole?

One of the most popular home remedies for removing moles is to flood their tunnels and holes in an attempt to drown these little underground creatures. Unfortunately, all this accomplishes is a muddy, watered down lawn and a headache.

How do you poison a mole?

There is one mole poison bait that will kill moles within 24 hours called Talpirid. The key to using Talpirid is to place the bait in the main tunnel. A mole will have a few main lines with many branch mole damage lines.

What kind of moles are in the Seattle area?

Yards in the Seattle and Tacoma area tend to attract two types of moles; the Coast mole (also known as the Pacific mole and the Red Footed mole) and Townsend’s mole. Both moles are attracted to our Pacific Northwest moist soil. Coast moles and Townsend’s moles are brown in color and have velvety fur.

How to get rid of moles in Washington State?

Moles are a challenging species for homeowners to get rid of because they can inhabit a large area and they can be difficult to locate. Although mole trapping used to be an effective management tool for these pests, Washington residents are now banned from using body-gripping traps for mole control.

Which is the largest mole in North America?

At a total length of 8 to 9 inches, the slate black Townsend mole ( Scapanus townsendii) (Fig. 1), is the largest mole species in North America. It occurs in meadows, fields, pastures, lawns, and golf courses west of the Cascade mountains.

How to get rid of voles in Washington State?

Moles and voles are challenging species for homeowners to get rid of because they can inhabit a large area and they can be difficult to locate. Although mole trapping used to be an effective management tool for these pests, Washington residents are now banned from using body-gripping traps for mole control.