1, Respect the mole at all times.
It is important to recognise the mole as a living mammal and to provide full consideration to its welfare whilst under the control of man in any way to reduce possible unnecessary suffering.
2, Before commencement of work make a full assessment of the area and consider the personal and /or risks to third parties or other non target species.
Risks need to be evaluated and measures taken to reduce and/or remove potential harm from any possible actions that will or maybe undertaken in the works of mole removal.
3, Consider the use of the area/s and what type of device would be beneficial and achieve the results to that location.
The choice of device is a personal preference but must be appropriate to its ability to control the target mole in the best and most humane way possible but also correct to the location to avoid possible detection or interference from unauthorized persons.
4, Only use good quality proven devices that are in good working order.
There are currently no approvals for devices used for moles. This allows unsuitable devices to be utilized. If providing a business service, it would be advisable that commercially available devices are purchased from a reputable supplier. However, even suppliers will offer devices of different standards so judge your choice intelligently. The use of inappropriate devices could result in unnecessary suffering, possible prosecution, and/or failure to complete the task. Research the devices carefully and evaluate the operation of all that you may consider for use before placement is made.
5, When using mechanical devices never leave them exposed, care should be taken to cover to avoid accidentally injuring non target species or third parties and reduce tampering.
As a working practice, it will be obvious to prevent tampering of devices for safety requirements, but some devices from their designs may be visible when in use. Ensure if using exposed devices that all concerned are made aware to the presence of devices placed.
6, Marking the position of devices is sometimes required under Risk Assessments .
Being discreet is often the best option when deploying mechanical devices but some circumstances may require them to be identified, to ensure that your system of identifying the position of devices does not pose potential harm to third parties or other species. Consider the location and situation when leaving anything that identifies the presence of your placed devices.
7, All mechanical devices must be inspected once a day, however where risk assessment identifies, some multiple visits maybe required.
Many will fail to inspect a placed device/s under many guises, such as it is not a legal requirement. Every animal is a protected species once it enters into any trap, it upon capture becomes protected under the Animal Welfare Act, and prior to that capture, no offence will have been committed. However, if upon inspection any level of suffering has been caused then that is an offence. It will be down to the courts to decide what measures could or should have been taken, to reduce or remove that suffering.
Many trap operators will claim failure to inspect placed traps under frail excuses such as; they had other work commitments or the devices will kill the mole so there is no need to inspect, even claim that they check regularly, which can be once every few days or once per week providing it is regular it is seen as acceptable?.
Many other professional service suppliers will have work schedules and those controlling moles are no different to other trades. The acceptance to undertake the control of a mole by the use of a mechanical device will require a visit to place that device, so it will be necessary that another visit will be required the next day to inspect it. Therefore, this return visit will be scheduled into the next working day.
It clearly identifies that to inspect any device once a day is a workable practice, as many involved in Pest Control are aware. they are required to make obligatory visits to clients in undertaking work agreements for the use of glue boards for rodent control, live capture devices and more important to the point- mechanical devices used against other species such as rodents- squirrels that are listed on the schedules of the spring trap order until the completion of the task.
Those employed in the pest control industry are required to operate under a daily inspection requirement so provides proof to the acceptance and workability of a once a day inspection.
The use of a mechanical device involves the termination of a life and indisputably necessitates an assurance to provide a minimum level of welfare and that can only be achieved with a minimum once a day inspection. There will always be possible suffering and it cannot be denied that even with once a day inspections suffering will be reduced, but there must be a minimum requirement. Multiple visits will reduce levels of possible suffering further, as operators will be able to deal with any mole found to be in distress sooner.
As there is, no approval for devices used against a mole, there will undoubtedly be moles caught unintentionally alive in a device reputedly designed to kill its target mole. Any mole caught unintentionally alive in what is often termed as a kill trap, is considered as an offence, as unnecessary suffering has occurred. The operation of any device placed for a mole can be influenced by circumstances such as unintentional tampering or from the incorrect placement resulting in the restraint of a live mole.
Many people claim to never have witnessed a live mole in a device, often this is from the time from that placement to inspection, and the mole may have expired from stress, dehydration, or starvation. There are no excuses to ignore the welfare for animals whilst under the control of man and moles are no exception. The devices used are employed in a harsh environment that is out of sight and this places further obligation to inspect them once a day.
important note
The person responsible for the placement of the device is also the person responsible for its inspection, if an inspection to a device reveals that the target mole remains alive it must be despatched immediately. Some operators will request that a third party inspects the device[ it has been known for the client to inspect the device] If a third party inspects a device that contains a live mole and it is required that the person responsible for its placement is then required to attend to despatch the animal, an offence under the Animal Welfare Act is committed as unnecessary suffering occurs until the mole has been despatched. This practice is not permitted under the current regulations to prevent such circumstances.
This practice clearly contravenes the regulations already in force in the United Kingdom and with many persons quick to promote reason not to inspect devices, identifies a lack of professionalism, compassion, and capability to the undertaking.
8, Always record the quantity of devices used at a location.
You must record the amount of devices placed at a location to ensure they are all inspected and removed upon completion of the task. This will reduce the possibility of failure to retrieve all devices that if left in situ could be a hazard to other non-target species or third parties.
9, Always remove all devices from a location if inspection is no longer to be made.
It is not permitted to leave devices in position if they are not required, as they could become a hazard. It is not permitted to leave devices set if no inspection is to be made as this is an admission to the intent to cause possible unnecessary suffering.
