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Hiker's photo ignites fierce online reaction
A hill walker's image of moles hung on a barbed-wire fence in England's Lake District has triggered a heated social media debate, exposing a divide between rural and urban perspectives.
Simon Lucas, a 61-year-old musician from Bristol, captured the scene in February while returning from a hike near Seathwaite Farm in Cumbria. The photograph showed a row of moles suspended by their snouts, their front paws dangling lifelessly.
"I was curious more than anything," Lucas said. "But the response was overwhelming-hundreds of comments, split between outrage and defense of the practice."
Why moles are targeted
With an estimated UK population exceeding 40 million, moles are considered agricultural pests. Their tunneling disrupts crop roots and pasture, while molehills can damage farm machinery. Soil from the hills may also contaminate hay or silage, reducing feed quality, according to Northumberland farmer Richard Hodgson.
Under UK law, moles are classified as pests, and killing them is legal. However, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 restricts methods to traps or gas. Despite this, the practice of displaying carcasses remains contentious.
Tradition vs. modern sensibilities
Mikey Fullerton, a mole catcher in County Durham, inherited the trade from his father. He hangs moles to prove his work to farmers and attract new clients. "If another farmer sees them, they might ask who's doing their moles," he explained. "That's how you get more jobs."
Fullerton acknowledged the practice unsettles some but defended it as a long-standing rural custom. In some cases, he now uses a bucket to show farmers the catch instead.
"They do need controlling-they cause serious damage," he said.
Criticism from animal advocates
Karen Barwick, who photographed moles hung near Bowbank in County Durham, described the sight as "sad and confusing." After learning the tradition's purpose, she admitted feeling sympathy for the animals.
Duncan Hutt of the Northumberland Wildlife Trust called moles "fantastic creatures" that aerate soil and control pests. While acknowledging their impact on farmland, he questioned the need for public displays. "Surely there are better ways to count them," he said.
A cultural divide
Lucas, who visits the Lake District monthly, noted the debate reflects broader tensions. "Many rural residents just want to be left alone to farm and maintain their traditions," he said. "They resent outsiders imposing different values."
The controversy underscores the clash between long-held rural practices and evolving attitudes toward animal welfare.
