Moles

[DrWazzock]

I fabricated a L type tool with tube as the horizontal of the L. It firms and scoops out loose soil. However it makes minor difference against the benefit of selecting a run in hard ground.

Once a mole has sprung a trap and borrowed under it he is "educated" and won't ever go in a trap. Only way then is the shotgun.

 

[Bere 404]

Tried few things, using an old T spade handle at the moment but been planning on fabricating a tool with a 90 degree bend 1 inch pipe on one end and a spike on other end. Would do two jobs then!!

Hard to find a old handle of the right type type. I made a T bar out of steel pipe but its heavy and no taper for the tunnel hole forming. Its stored away but not used. I now have one of these https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/professi...=item1cc364ced4:g:u2IAAOSwJaxcDnxb:rk:33:pf:0 . Works well and fits nicely in the old corner shop shopping basket I use to carry traps, serrated bread knife and markers.

 

[hally]

How’s everyone getting on with trapping in this wet weather? Getting no luck here, only traps full of soil no matter how tidy I prepare the run!! Have alway had better success during dry spells.

I always knock off when ground gets wet, they seem much harder to catch

 

[DeeGee]

"There's only one way to get rid of a mole"

Yep, totally agree, traps are too good for them, bloody moles, I have found that the only thing they seem to understand is to be buried alive.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

I always knock off when ground gets wet, they seem much harder to catch

Yes but having been free all summer and back end they’ve now come back from next door therefore tried a few traps here and there!!

This was the destruction in early April, trapped about 12-15, they’ve come back again now!!

 

[Bere 404]

I always knock off when ground gets wet, they seem much harder to catch

Seems like the grounds always wet. If only I could master trapping in wet ground.
Like someone said it becomes a obsession.

 

[neilo]

I fabricated a L type tool with tube as the horizontal of the L. It firms and scoops out loose soil. However it makes minor difference against the benefit of selecting a run in hard ground.

Once a mole has sprung a trap and borrowed under it he is "educated" and won't ever go in a trap. Only way then is the shotgun.

That’s when a change to a Talpex comes in.

 

[milkloss]

I made a hole cutter for scissor traps. Worked quite well but I can’t be arsed grovelling in the ground so just shoot them most of the time.

 

[Bere 404]

That’s when a change to a Talpex comes in.

Will do!

 

[Mur Huwcun]

War has now commenced!!

This one did not get the Christmas he was hoping for!!!

Just the one this morning and one other trap set off

Cross fingers for tommorow now!! All traps set by walls/hedges bar one which I’ve tried in the middle of a run going along the field!!

 

[GAM]

I have spoken with green keeper today, he was telling me to put black thorn in the runs, this deters the mole or scags them!

 

[Yale]

I have spoken with green keeper today, he was telling me to put black thorn in the runs, this deters the mole or scags them!

If you are going to go to the effort of putting blackthorn in the run you might as well put a trap in it.

 

[Yale]

Since I took these photos on the 14 December I have caught 58 moles from a 70 acre block which is a short term let.

Even if we don’t have the land we farm all around it so I know it won’t be a breeding hub.

As far as I can tell I have had every single one from there and it is now cleared.

I took the chain harrows over the molehills first on a frosty night as there was about 7 acres which was a mass of molehills then systematically trapped the whole place.

 

[milkloss]

Since I took these photos on the 14 December I have caught 58 moles from a 70 acre block which is a short term let.

Even if we don’t have the land we farm all around it so I know it won’t be a breeding hub.

As far as I can tell I have had every single one from there and it is now cleared.

I took the chain harrows over the molehills first on a frosty night as there was about 7 acres which was a mass of molehills then systematically trapped the whole place.

View attachment 754204 View attachment 754206

Years ago Father and Uncle had big trouble on the marsh with moles. Form the story it sounded like it was similar to your field. They got a big concrete roller (we called it the ‘cracker’) and rolled it with two people following with .410’s. They got 120 in a day!!

 

[GAM]

If you are going to go to the effort of putting blackthorn in the run you might as well put a trap in it.

The same guy told me that they also used crow scarer bangers down the deep runs, the moles hated the vibration and moved back through the hedge!

 

[RJSunter]

Mole catching becomes an obsession. I now use nothing but this type of trap. Cut the hole in the run to the traps size, place the trap in the run, then, (this is the bit I have experimented a lot with) fill the trap with nice fine loose soil! This encourages the mole to dig as it enters the claw and trips the catch with the movement of the soil!

 

[GAM]

Mole catching becomes an obsession. I now use nothing but this type of trap. Cut the hole in the run to the traps size, place the trap in the run, then, (this is the bit I have experimented a lot with) fill the trap with nice fine loose soil! This encourages the mole to dig as it enters the claw and trips the catch with the movement of the soil! View attachment 754492

What make or brand are those traps?

 

[neilo]

What make or brand are those traps?

Talpex are the original (& best), but there are lots of cheaper versions available, mostly with weaker springs.

I’vs had great success with them in the past, but no good at all this Autumn. Duffus traps were far more successful for some reason, clearing 80 of a 60ac block. Plenty more to go at elsewhere though.
Maybe the Talpex work better in the winter, which is when I used them last?

 

[RJSunter]

What make or brand are those traps?

Talpex. It’s very rare that the trap will be struck and nothing in it.

 

[Blaithin]

Used to have a little mutt dog that would bring home a mole a day.

Luckily she always brought the trap it was caught in home too

Don’t have moles really, in Alberta, just pocket gophers. And they must come up out of the ground more often because the cat sure shows up with them frequently.

Folks around here say the quickest way to get rid of a field of them is some anhydrous