PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Over Christmas, the Government launched its Animal Welfare Strategy, which included a commitment to review mole traps.

SPEED READ

• The government’s Animal Welfare Strategy included a commitment to review mole traps, which are currently unregulated
• As a devolved topic, the review will only affect England and Wales
• BPCA is responding to the review, and starting in March, we surveyed the sector
• We found that there are no realistic alternatives to trapping moles
• We also found real animal welfare concerns from the wide availability of cheap, low-quality traps
• We would support, with certain conditions, that mole traps require approval in England and Wales.

The unregulated nature of mole traps has raised concerns about their humane treatment. The government review, which is looking into traps, could potentially affect how these traps are regulated in future.

We have conducted an industry survey to better understand and address these concerns, ensuring that any reform takes our needs into account.

The design of mole traps is not regulated in England and Wales under The Small Ground Vermin Traps Order 1958. They don’t appear on the Spring Trap Approvals Order; they don’t go through any approvals process.

The same is true in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which operate under their own equivalent orders. Despite the Northern Irish order exempting mole traps, moles are not found on the island of Ireland.

To help inform the review and ensure the sector was represented, we asked you for your views and experiences with mole trapping in March.

What did we find out?

The results confirmed real welfare concerns, with the market full of cheap imitations and knock-offs.

Professionals know what makes a good mole trap, and our Code of Best Practice reinforces that. But the public doesn’t know what makes a good mole trap, and these poor-quality traps are available online and in garden centres around the country.

Even if a member of the general public was able to choose a good trap, they wouldn’t have the experience necessary to use it effectively or humanely.

The survey results showed just how specialised mole control was, with over a third (36%) having more than 20 years of experience, and three-quarters having more than five years.

We already know that there are no chemical repellents authorised for use in the UK, and that aluminium phosphide is difficult or impossible to use in urban areas or in poor weather.

Your feedback reinforced the fact that there are few realistic alternatives to trapping: deterrents don’t work, and aluminium phosphide is unpopular.

Less than 1% of you reported that vibrating or sonic deterrents were either “somewhat effective” or “very effective”.

70% of those who carry out mole treatments do not currently use Aluminium Phosphide, and were mole traps to be entirely banned, fewer than 1% of them would consider starting to use it.

Without access to mole traps, the number of people who could treat moles would collapse. Potential clients could be left without necessary treatments, especially those in urban areas.

We also discovered that:

• 72% of those who carry out mole treatments are sole traders
• That the most popular type of trap was the barrel/duffus; followed by the putange, and then the scissor/pincer
• Treatments were carried out to protect a number of unique locations, including landing strips, heritage and archaeological sites, zoos, fisheries, and flood defences.

What does this mean for the review?

As this is just a review, the government has not yet committed to taking any action.

However, changes to how mole traps are regulated could be made without primary legislation and would therefore be relatively simple to enact if they were wished.

Based on your feedback, if the government decides to act following its review, BPCA could support adding mole traps to the Spring Trap Approval Orders for England and Wales.

This would be conditional on two points:

1. That at the point of such a reform coming into force, there would need to be multiple mole traps already approved for use – there can be no period of time within which there are no legal options for trapping moles, and recognising that professionals will choose between different basic designs to suit weather and soil conditions;
2. That British and European manufacturers are proactively engaged and supported through the approvals process by regulators – those already regarded as making quality traps for professionals should not have to face regulatory hurdles to maintain their business, avoiding costs being passed down to the professionals who buy their products.

The goal of such a reform should ultimately be to enable professionals who control moles to carry on their work with as little disruption as possible, while removing traps that are wholly unsuitable for use.

Mole traps are professional tools, and requiring approval should go some way to ensuring those cheap and unsuitable traps don’t find themselves in the hands of the general public.

Send your thoughts to:

policy@bpca.org.uk