The Guild of British Molecatchers
"Providing welfare for Moles through
awareness and control"
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"Providing welfare for Moles through awareness and control" |
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THE UNION OF COUNTRY SPORTS WORKERSThe Union of countryside sports workers is an opportunity for traditional molecatchers to have a voice. Five years ago, a Guild member asked for recognition for traditional molecatchers to be included in the union. After careful thought the union agreed to include molecatchers under the title of pest control. This was refused by that requesting member as it was considered that molecatchers were not pest controllers but specialised craftsman providing a dedicated service to a single quarry - the mole. The union took this on board and agreed that the title Molecatcher was to be included in their membership under a category of their own. Why should molecatchers join the union? There has been immense changes in the countryside in the recent years and many skills and crafts have since been subject to falling numbers as many turn to modern methods for earning a living. However tradition has returned to mole control with the withdrawal of poison use and limitation of use to the other method for mole control gas application, two methods never used by molecatchers. More people now controlling moles are returning to an age old method - the trap, which if used correctly is a tried and tested humane form of control. There will be those that oppose this method but as time has revealed the other methods have limitation or failed to be accepted. The Guild are working to provide a responsible solution to this ensuring respect and welfare towards the mole whilst under control with the code of practice. Working under such guidelines the tradition of mole catching will continue and grow and this is acknowledged by the Union of Country Sports Workers in allowing the honour of recognising molecatchers and the work that they do. Molecatchers should join this union and register themselves proudly at www.ucsw.org
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