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Molecatcher

April 13, 2024

A molecatcher (also called a mowdy-catcher)[citation needed] is a person who traps or kills moles in places where they are considered a nuisance to crops, lawns, sportsfields or gardens.

A captured mole

History of molecatching edit

Roman times edit

 
A mole trap

Excavations of ancient Roman sites have revealed earthenware pots that had been set in the ground. The pots were filled with water, and acted as traps for moles.[1]

Traditional molecatchers edit

Many early molecatchers set out snares for the moles, taking care to remove human scent from the loops.[2] Over time, traps used to catch and kill moles became more advanced and complicated, incorporating weighted wood or cast iron, and eventually sprung steel.[2]

 
A mole killed by a spring trap

Some itinerant molecatchers travelled from farm to farm. The molecatcher's customers would provide food and lodging, as well as a fee for every mole caught. The molecatcher could also earn additional money by selling the moleskins to furriers.[3][4]

Modern molecatching edit

In more recent times, traditional molecatching has given way to the use of poison.[5][6] Poison resulted in moles dying much more quickly and in greater numbers. For some time, strychnine was used to kill moles; its purchase was cheaper than paying molecatchers,[7] but sometimes other animals that shared the environment or interacted with moles were accidentally poisoned as well.[5]

Repellents, including sonic devices, holly leaves, moth balls, garlic and castor oil have not proven successful in preventing damage caused by moles.[8]

In the United Kingdom edit

The value of moleskins was subject to the vagaries of fashion. In 1903, a furrier in Leicester was offering £1 per hundred, in 1926, the price was 12s 6d (62.5p) per dozen. By the 1930s, only a few pence per skin was being paid. Some molecatchers were full time. In 1875, the town of Out Rawcliffe was advertising for a molecatcher for a term of fourteen years. In Windsor Great Park the molecatcher was said to receive £1 per week in 1910. In 2002, Victor Williamson, the molecatcher for the Sandringham, received a Royal Warrant.[9] Following the withdrawal of the poison from the market in 2006, the use of strychnine is no longer an approved method of control in the UK.[8] Fumigation with products based on aluminium phosphide (Trade names 'Talunex' and 'Phostoxin') is still an approved method of control, but may be carried out only by fully trained operatives.[8]

Since the removal of strychnine from the UK market, there has been a revival of traditional molecatching methods in Britain.[8] Modern traditional mole catchers use traps, and usually charge a 'per-mole' fee, as their predecessors often did. The price charged reflects the fact that there is no longer a market for moleskins.

References edit

  1. ^ Jeff Nicholls (2006). Molecatcher: A Guide to Traditional Molecatching Methods. Troubador Publishing Ltd. pp. 3–. ISBN 978-1-905237-76-0.
  2. ^ a b Thomas Hennell (2 February 2012). Change in the Farm. Cambridge University Press. pp. 201–. ISBN 978-1-107-65140-1.
  3. ^ Henry Tegner (November 1972). Natural history in Northumberland and Durham. Graham. p. 150. ISBN 9780902833128.
  4. ^ Monger, Garry (2021). "Fenland Mole-catchers". The Fens. 38: 20.
  5. ^ a b W. Carnegie (16 April 2013). Practical Trapping - A Description Of The Methods In Vogue For The Destruction Of Vermin. Read Books Limited. pp. 60–. ISBN 978-1-4474-9234-4.
  6. ^ Graham Rose (1989). The Traditional Garden Book. Greenhouse. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-86436-263-6.
  7. ^ Jeff Nicholls (1 October 2012). Mole Catching: A Practical Guide. Crowood. pp. 25–. ISBN 978-1-84797-470-9.
  8. ^ a b c d Frances Hubbard (18 April 2015). "Louise used to be a drama teacher. Now she kills moles". The Telegraph.
  9. ^ Monger, Garry (2021). "Fenland Mole-catchers". The Fens. 38. Natasha Shiels: 20.

Bibliography edit

  • Atkinson, Rob (2013). Moles. Whittet Books. ISBN 9781873580868.
  • Bowles, Bill (1986). Memoirs of a Fenland Molecatcher. Bowles. ISBN 978-0902436404.
  • Randell, Arthur (1970). Fenland Molecatcher. Routledge & Kegan Paul. ISBN 0710068026.
  • Smith, Guy N. (1980). Moles and Their Control. Saiga Publishing. ISBN 0904558827.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mole catching.
  • Association of Professional Mole Catchers
  • British Traditional Molecatchers Register
  • Guild of British molecatchers
  • Mole Catcher UK

April 13, 2024
molecatcher, molecatcher, also, called, mowdy, catcher, citation, needed, person, traps, kills, moles, places, where, they, considered, nuisance, crops, lawns, sportsfields, gardens, captured, mole, contents, history, molecatching, roman, times, traditional, m. A molecatcher also called a mowdy catcher citation needed is a person who traps or kills moles in places where they are considered a nuisance to crops lawns sportsfields or gardens A captured mole Contents 1 History of molecatching 1 1 Roman times 1 2 Traditional molecatchers 1 3 Modern molecatching 1 3 1 In the United Kingdom 2 References 3 Bibliography 4 External linksHistory of molecatching editRoman times edit nbsp A mole trapExcavations of ancient Roman sites have revealed earthenware pots that had been set in the ground The pots were filled with water and acted as traps for moles 1 Traditional molecatchers edit Many early molecatchers set out snares for the moles taking care to remove human scent from the loops 2 Over time traps used to catch and kill moles became more advanced and complicated incorporating weighted wood or cast iron and eventually sprung steel 2 nbsp A mole killed by a spring trapSome itinerant molecatchers travelled from farm to farm The molecatcher s customers would provide food and lodging as well as a fee for every mole caught The molecatcher could also earn additional money by selling the moleskins to furriers 3 4 Modern molecatching edit In more recent times traditional molecatching has given way to the use of poison 5 6 Poison resulted in moles dying much more quickly and in greater numbers For some time strychnine was used to kill moles its purchase was cheaper than paying molecatchers 7 but sometimes other animals that shared the environment or interacted with moles were accidentally poisoned as well 5 Repellents including sonic devices holly leaves moth balls garlic and castor oil have not proven successful in preventing damage caused by moles 8 In the United Kingdom edit The value of moleskins was subject to the vagaries of fashion In 1903 a furrier in Leicester was offering 1 per hundred in 1926 the price was 12s 6d 62 5p per dozen By the 1930s only a few pence per skin was being paid Some molecatchers were full time In 1875 the town of Out Rawcliffe was advertising for a molecatcher for a term of fourteen years In Windsor Great Park the molecatcher was said to receive 1 per week in 1910 In 2002 Victor Williamson the molecatcher for the Sandringham received a Royal Warrant 9 Following the withdrawal of the poison from the market in 2006 the use of strychnine is no longer an approved method of control in the UK 8 Fumigation with products based on aluminium phosphide Trade names Talunex and Phostoxin is still an approved method of control but may be carried out only by fully trained operatives 8 Since the removal of strychnine from the UK market there has been a revival of traditional molecatching methods in Britain 8 Modern traditional mole catchers use traps and usually charge a per mole fee as their predecessors often did The price charged reflects the fact that there is no longer a market for moleskins References edit Jeff Nicholls 2006 Molecatcher A Guide to Traditional Molecatching Methods Troubador Publishing Ltd pp 3 ISBN 978 1 905237 76 0 a b Thomas Hennell 2 February 2012 Change in the Farm Cambridge University Press pp 201 ISBN 978 1 107 65140 1 Henry Tegner November 1972 Natural history in Northumberland and Durham Graham p 150 ISBN 9780902833128 Monger Garry 2021 Fenland Mole catchers The Fens 38 20 a b W Carnegie 16 April 2013 Practical Trapping A Description Of The Methods In Vogue For The Destruction Of Vermin Read Books Limited pp 60 ISBN 978 1 4474 9234 4 Graham Rose 1989 The Traditional Garden Book Greenhouse p 80 ISBN 978 0 86436 263 6 Jeff Nicholls 1 October 2012 Mole Catching A Practical Guide Crowood pp 25 ISBN 978 1 84797 470 9 a b c d Frances Hubbard 18 April 2015 Louise used to be a drama teacher Now she kills moles The Telegraph Monger Garry 2021 Fenland Mole catchers The Fens 38 Natasha Shiels 20 Bibliography editAtkinson Rob 2013 Moles Whittet Books ISBN 9781873580868 Bowles Bill 1986 Memoirs of a Fenland Molecatcher Bowles ISBN 978 0902436404 Randell Arthur 1970 Fenland Molecatcher Routledge amp Kegan Paul ISBN 0710068026 Smith Guy N 1980 Moles and Their Control Saiga Publishing ISBN 0904558827 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mole catching Association of Professional Mole Catchers British Traditional Molecatchers Register Guild of British molecatchers Mole Catcher UK Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Molecatcher amp oldid 1190133885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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