By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
An accident with a homemade mole trap fashioned from part of a 12-gauge shotgun injured a Randle resident yesterday when it shot him in the leg.
Aid and deputies were called about 3:40 p.m. to the man’s home on the 10,000 block of U.S. Highway 12.
The 59-year-old man said he had caught a mole with the trap in his front yard and was setting it up over a hole in his backyard when it tipped over on the slope and discharged, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
The device consisted of a shotgun barrel mounted on a metal plate and used a spring activation system with 12-gauge shells, according to the sheriff’s office.
The man was able to go inside his home and call 911, Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.
He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The injury to his right knee was not life threatening, but potentially disabling, Brown said.
“Mole Shoots would be Mole Hunter” Mole escapes un-harmed, but the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department has issued an arrest warrant and a State wide mole hunt is underway. The mole was last spotted underground heading east as fast as it could dig. Sheriff Mansfield himself held a press conference and has issued a public safety warning. The Mole is armed and dangerous and could be packing a 12 gauge mole trap, please do not approach this mole, call the Sheriff and stay indoors if you happen to spot this armed Mole. Last year 3 Humans were killed by armed moles, armed moles have been a plauge in the state of Washington and many other states have reported armed moles.
@ Tommy Orr.
Mole bait? Unreal.
Haha, he lived a real-life Ground Hog Day without the laughs!!!
What a douche!!!!!
A spring trap with bait would have worked!!!! His hatred for other forms of life might cost him is ease of mobility! Serves him right.
There are very simple ways of dealing with pests and critters without having to go ballistic nuclear Rambo!!! LMAO!!!
Darwin strikes again.
That’s why gun mole traps are illegal.
I wonder if charges are pending…