Legal Mole Traps in Washington State: What Is Still Allowed
If you are looking for legal mole traps in Washington State , the traditional ones are not on the list. Scissor, harpoon and choker-style traps are body-gripping devices. Initiative 713 made using them a crime for anyone in the state, homeowners included. Methods that don't grip or pierce the animal are still legal, such as live-capture traps, buried barriers and professional service that avoids banned traps.
A legal mole trap in Washington is therefore one that doesn't clamp, crush or pierce the mole's body. The distinction trips up many homeowners because the banned traps still sit on hardware store shelves and in online listings.
This guide explains why the ban exists, which traps it covers, and how to deal with moles within the law. Mole Masters has done nothing but mole control in the Pacific Northwest since 1991, so we explain this rule from daily experience, not from a statute summary.
Why most mole traps are illegal in Washington
Most mole traps are illegal to use in Washington because they are body-gripping traps, and Initiative 713 banned using those. So, are mole traps illegal in Washington state? The common ones are. The ban comes from a 2000 ballot measure, and state wildlife and extension sources still treat it as settled.
What Initiative 713 changed
Washington voters passed Initiative 713 in 2000. It made it a gross misdemeanor to capture an animal with a steel-jawed leghold trap, a neck snare or another body-gripping trap. The rules sit in the state's wildlife crimes chapter, RCW 77.15. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife states that traditionally used mole traps are no longer legal here because of their body-gripping design. Washington State University's Hortsense guide says the same, and it adds that body-piercing mole traps are illegal for anyone to use .
Initiative 713 did not single out moles. Mole traps got caught because of how they kill.
Which traps the ban covers
The test is the mechanism, not the product name. Here is how common trap types line up.
| Trap type | How it works | Status in Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Scissor-jaw trap | Jaws close on the mole's body when it passes | Body-gripping, illegal to use |
| Harpoon or spear trap | Spikes pierce the mole | Body-piercing, illegal to use |
| Choker loop trap | A loop tightens around the body | Body-gripping, illegal to use |
| Live-capture trap | Holds the mole without gripping it | Not covered by the ban |
Gopher traps work the same way. The Washington State Trappers Association says all mole and gopher traps are body-gripping traps, and that using any of them is a gross misdemeanor.
Owning, selling and using are different things
Owning or selling a banned mole trap is still legal in Washington. Only using it is banned. That gap explains why you can still order a scissor trap online and have it arrive at your door.
A store listing is not a legal opinion. Setting the trap in your yard is the offense. A gross misdemeanor can carry up to 364 days in jail and a $5,000 fine under Washington's general sentencing law. The statute has narrow permit-based exceptions, but ordinary lawn damage is not what they were written for. Ask WDFW if you think your case qualifies.
How to control moles legally in Washington
Legal mole control means skipping anything that grips or pierces the animal. You can block moles, catch them alive, discourage them or hire a professional. Each option has a different success rate, so match the method to your yard.
Methods and how they perform
| Method | Legal status | Realistic result |
|---|---|---|
| Scissor, harpoon, choker traps | Illegal to use | Not an option |
| Live-capture traps | Legal | Hard to place well, low success for first-timers |
| Buried barriers | Legal | Protects a bed or garden, not a whole lawn |
| Repellents such as castor oil | Legal | Mixed and often temporary |
| Poisons and gas products | Regulated products | Follow the label exactly, with real risk to pets |
| Professional service | Legal | Depends on the provider's method |
Barriers work best around vegetable beds, because moles tunnel well below the surface. Bury hardware cloth deep enough that they can't dig under it, and bend the bottom edge outward.
If you catch a mole alive, ask WDFW before releasing it elsewhere , because moving wildlife is regulated. Predators such as owls, hawks and cats take some moles but won't clear an active infestation.
Hiring a professional
A pro is the practical route when mounds keep appearing. Mole Masters controls moles with underground devices, with no poisons or chemicals . We cover each device with a hard plastic cap and stake it down.
Our In/Out Mole Control runs five weekly visits. It is quoted with an "Up-To" price of $395 for a property of half an acre or less, excluding sales tax. Our average client spends $345, which is $50 under that worst case. If we can pull out early, you get a discount on a sliding scale. We charge nothing extra per mole caught. Call (253) 926-0402 for a free estimate.
The ban removes the cheap trap from your toolbox, so the real choice is between patience with barriers and hiring someone who has solved this before.
How to check that a method is legal before you use it
Before you use any mole product, check how it kills or holds the mole, then confirm with WDFW if you are unsure. A few minutes of checking costs less than a misdemeanor charge.
A quick legality checklist
Run through these questions in order:
- Does the device clamp, crush, choke or pierce the mole's body? If yes, don't use it.
- Is the product sold as a pesticide or repellent? If yes, read the label and follow it exactly.
- Is it a live-capture device? If yes, plan what you will do with the animal before you set it.
- Does your county, city or HOA have extra rules? If you aren't sure, ask them.
Don't treat "sold in Washington" as proof that a product is legal to use. Retail availability tells you nothing about the law.
What to do with a trap you already own
If you already own a scissor or harpoon trap, don't set it. Storing it is not the same as using it, and the ban targets use. You can leave it in the garage.
If you hire a professional, ask what device they use and how it fits state law before you sign. A provider who can't explain their method clearly is a poor bet. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the right place to confirm anything the label or a contractor leaves unclear.
The bottom line on mole traps in Washington
The traditional mole traps are banned for use in Washington because they grip or pierce the animal, and Initiative 713 has been in force since 2000. Selling them is still legal, which is why they look available. What you can use are methods that avoid gripping and piercing, such as barriers, live-capture traps and a professional who knows the rules.
If mounds are taking over your lawn and you want it handled without poisons or banned traps, request a free estimate from Mole Masters. You get an "Up-To" price upfront, and the final cost can come in lower.